Dental Embezzlement Do’s and Don’ts
THIS PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION – LAST UPDATED NOV-24-2022
“The advice below is intended for dental practice owners when they are first confronted by the real or likely probability they have been embezzled. (i.e.: when the practice owner ‘suspects’ or has “reasonable cause” to believe that embezzlement has occurred)”
Bill Hiltz BSc MBA CET
DO NOT – CONTACT THE POLICE
Do not contact the police based on a suspicion or without tangible evidence.
Police departments will generally not allocate resources to investigate dental embezzlement. An exception to this is when the suspected employee has a previous conviction for fraud or embezzlement.
In most cases, police and prosecutors will only act when the dentist provides them with clear and compelling evidence that a financial crime was committed. (i.e.: a forensic audit report)
DO NOT – INSTALL CAMERAS IN THE OFFICE
Do not install cameras at this time.
If your hunch is correct, then installing cameras will arouse the employee’s suspicion.
This will cause a change work behavior, and increased efforts to conceal their crime. (i.e.: destruction of electronic records and removal of physical records)
DO NOT – FIRE THE SUSPECT FOR STEALING
Terminating employment based on a suspicion can result in an employment lawsuit and a severance obligation.
Do not fire an employee on a hunch. You need clear and compelling evidence to fire an employee for stealing
DO NOT – CONFRONT THE EMPLOYEE
Confronting an employee
DO NOT – START ASKING EMPLOYEES QUESTIONS
to be completed
DO – BACKUP YOUR DATA
Yes.
to be completed
TBC (emails, passwords, PMS, syslogs)
DO – REVIEW YOUR BUSINESS OWNERS POLICY
to be completed
DO – INVESTIGATE YOUR SUSPICIONS
Take the Dental Embezzlement Red Flag Self Assessment
to be completed
DO – SEEK PROFESSIONAL ADVICE
William Hiltz BSc MBA CET
Hiltz & Associates
Insight • Diligence • Assurance
Office: 201-503-3742
Cell: 201-467-4987
Fax: 855-440-8624
https://hiltzandassociates.com
https://dentalfraudbusters.com