An employee from University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, based in Iowa City, allegedly defrauded the system by more than $272,000 throughout the past 10 years by selling hospital-funded IT equipment on eBay, according to an Iowa City Press-Citizen report.
Jennifer Whitemore-Meier formerly handled IT for UIHC's department of orthopedics and rehabilitation. She allegedly committed the fraud from December 2002 through January 2012.
A state audit suggested Ms. Whitemore-Meier committed most of the fraud by using the system's money to buy 852 technology items that she later sold on eBay for more than $200,000. She also awarded herself more than $20,500 in "exceptional performance bonuses," the audit found.
Ms. Whitmore-Meier was suspended in November 2011 when the investigation began. The report says she resigned in January 2012, although UIHC officials said Ms. Whitemore-Meier was fired, according to the report.
The state auditor has shared the report, which exceeds 200 pages, with law enforcement, the state Attorney General's Office and the Johnson County Attorney's Office. The report also includes policy recommendations for UIHC to prevent similar incidents in the future, including dividing duties among employees to ensure checks and balances and creating an oversight system for purchases, according to the report.
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Jennifer Whitemore-Meier formerly handled IT for UIHC's department of orthopedics and rehabilitation. She allegedly committed the fraud from December 2002 through January 2012.
A state audit suggested Ms. Whitemore-Meier committed most of the fraud by using the system's money to buy 852 technology items that she later sold on eBay for more than $200,000. She also awarded herself more than $20,500 in "exceptional performance bonuses," the audit found.
Ms. Whitmore-Meier was suspended in November 2011 when the investigation began. The report says she resigned in January 2012, although UIHC officials said Ms. Whitemore-Meier was fired, according to the report.
The state auditor has shared the report, which exceeds 200 pages, with law enforcement, the state Attorney General's Office and the Johnson County Attorney's Office. The report also includes policy recommendations for UIHC to prevent similar incidents in the future, including dividing duties among employees to ensure checks and balances and creating an oversight system for purchases, according to the report.
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