Is someone stealing from your practice?

© Oleg Shelomentsev - Fotolia.com Most physician practice owners we work tell us they believe it is very unlikely that any employee would steal from them. But when you consider that an MGMA study found that 83% of members had worked in a practice where embezzling had occurred, it seems quite probable that some of those physicians will eventually employ a thief (or would-be thief) -- and that some don't realize they are being stolen from right now. Embezzling is easily missed by physicians and administrators for many reasons. One of the most common is that honest people, people who tend to respect protocols and rules, don't always consider the possibility that others don't share their boundaries. Physicians and practice managers who use a CPA to handle accounting and/or bookkeeping may assume those professionals can spot embezzlement, even though the tracks are almost certainly well-hidden in details that aren't part of a CPA's calculations (and usually aren't even accessible to them). The modern medical practice embezzler can also be an extremely creative thinker. We've worked with practices where the owners believed that embezzling couldn't happen in their practice because they don't accept cash or because the payroll and accounts payable aren't handled by any employee -- but physicians and administrators would be astounded (as we are) by the number of schemes that can tap into any flow of money in or out of the practice.  New schemes are also constantly being devised by clever, determined thieves. Of course, for physician owners, another huge obstacle is the fact that most of their time is focused on patient care. This leaves less time and less energy for business details. Doctors need to trust people to manage most administrative matters for them. Unfortunately, embezzlers take advantage of that trust, often presenting themselves as the most loyal, hard-working employees in the practice, cultivating a "halo" that helps them get away with their crimes. Administrators and practice managers, the most trusted individuals in the practice, are generally among the employees with the most opportunity to steal, if they are so inclined. In some