A county prosecutor has asked the Idaho Attorney General's Office to take over a criminal investigation of Bingham Memorial Hospital in Blackfoot, according to an Idaho State Journal report.
Bingham County Prosecutor Scott Andrew said he was in a complicated spot as he tried to act as a criminal prosecutor in a heightening feud between Bingham County officials and the hospital. He said the possibility of an ethical conflict appeared to be likely.
Bingham Memorial filed a tort claim last week against two county officials, Ladd Carter and Lee Hammett, claiming they are conspiring with the media to oust six hospital administrators and certain board members. In late May, the officials requested a forensic audit of the hospital, specifically investigating the validity of former employees' complaints against hospital management.
The hospital's tort says the investigation caused negative publicity, resulting in the loss of at least $250,000 in revenue from "the loss of patients, disruption of activities and the need to hire attorneys," according to a separate report from the Idaho State Journal.
Mr. Andrew said it was that tort that caused him to request help from the AG, and he believes his request will be granted within the next two weeks.
Two accusations against Bingham Memorial have received the most coverage thus far. One is that an employee allegedly sold hospital computer equipment and kept the money. The other is that personnel at the hospital were told to keep medication in their personal vehicles because it could not be properly secured prior to an inspection, according to the report.
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Bingham County Prosecutor Scott Andrew said he was in a complicated spot as he tried to act as a criminal prosecutor in a heightening feud between Bingham County officials and the hospital. He said the possibility of an ethical conflict appeared to be likely.
Bingham Memorial filed a tort claim last week against two county officials, Ladd Carter and Lee Hammett, claiming they are conspiring with the media to oust six hospital administrators and certain board members. In late May, the officials requested a forensic audit of the hospital, specifically investigating the validity of former employees' complaints against hospital management.
The hospital's tort says the investigation caused negative publicity, resulting in the loss of at least $250,000 in revenue from "the loss of patients, disruption of activities and the need to hire attorneys," according to a separate report from the Idaho State Journal.
Mr. Andrew said it was that tort that caused him to request help from the AG, and he believes his request will be granted within the next two weeks.
Two accusations against Bingham Memorial have received the most coverage thus far. One is that an employee allegedly sold hospital computer equipment and kept the money. The other is that personnel at the hospital were told to keep medication in their personal vehicles because it could not be properly secured prior to an inspection, according to the report.
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