over bank records, credit cards and practice reports trying to
diagnose the existence and extent of the damage, until they
become exhausted, stressed, overworked, and are forced to
resolve their concerns
The solution for some is to keep things quiet and on the
downlow. They rationalize that the best decision it to just
“let the employee go” and move on. Unfortunately, this choice
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itably show up after the thief is long gone, and very awkward
when you learn that the thief is working in another practice
in your area.
The widely published and agreed upon statistics say that 6
out of 10 dentists will be a victim of employee dishonesty. It
doesn’t matter if you practice alone, in a group, or whether
your practice is rural or urban; odds are that at some point in
time an employee will decide to steal.
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ceal payments, create false transactions, pocket co-payments,
forge signatures, abuse credit cards, and the list goes on.
The sad reality is, when an employee is intent on taking your
Usually the stealing starts “slow and low”. The thief will steal
a small amount then wait a week, a month or more and when
the theft goes unnoticed, they will repeat the process with
another part of their “job.”
These schemes can go on for months and years, with practices
losing tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
In order to steal, the perpetrators invariably will adulterate
patient records to conceal their crime. When confronted,
a dishonest employee may erase information, shred documents
and remove patient charts and other information from
your practice to conceal evidence. When this happens, failure
to notify the proper regulatory body can negatively impact
your license to practice dentistry.
The key to early detection is to monitor employee
behavior.
of being caught causes them to behave in odd or erratic ways.
When a person steals, their primary goal is to not get caught.
This requires the employee to conceal their thefts so as not
to arouse suspicion. The embezzler is on constant alert and
with dishonest activity.
Observing behaviors that are consistent with theft is the
behaviors that dentists need be aware of.
• Be aware of an employee who has visible signs of money
problems. These employees may make comments or
complain about not having enough money. The cause of
their money problems may be visible to the dentist; things
like gambling, alcohol or drug addiction, marital problems,
calls from collection agencies at work, large medical bills
or a spouse who lost their job.
• Be aware of an employee who spends time alone in the
• Be aware that dishonest employees will often refuse to
take vacation or come in to work when they are sick and
should have stayed at home.
• Employee who steal often become “jumpy” when someone
tries to help them with their duties. They will resist the
involvement of others in their work.
• Be aware of an employee who is resistant to change. Embezzlers
do not want changes in things like practice management
software, bookkeeping, accounting or consulting
services.
• Embezzlers are often slow to respond to your requests for
information. The report you asked for today may not show
up on your desk until tomorrow. They often will become
transactions or dental insurance claims.
• Some embezzlers will attempt to cover up their actions by
wanting you to believe that they are always one step ahead
and keeping you informed. This perception of organization
is essential to maintain the bond of trust that is required
for them to steal.
there is probable cause for concern and this should warrant
a further examination or a consultation with a dental fraud
examiner.
you can take appropriate action.
dishonesty” insurance. If you are the victim of embezzlement,
to offset your losses and help to pay for any professional and
legal expenses incurred to bring the thief to justice.
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