Enhancements can help prevent dispensary fraud, embezzlement

"You have no idea of the number of practices I've gone in over the years where an employee has embezzled money, and the first thing out of the owner's mouth is 'But I trusted that person,' " said Jeffrey T. Grant, senior management consultant, Compulink Business Systems.

Grant cautioned dispensary owners and managers that employees must earn their trust during his symposium "Inventory Control: Preventing Fraud and Abuse," presented at the Ophthalmology Times/American Association of Dispensing Ophthalmologists Dispensing Solutions Pavilion.

According to Grant, warning signs of fraud and abuse include:

• Employees who don't take vacations.

• Employees who seem to have a standard of living in excess of their income.

• Employees who want to work late after everyone else has left.

• Employees who insist that they are the only person who can handle a particular task.

• Employees who are having financial problems.

• Inventory shrinkage below industry standards or that suddenly drop below your normal levels.

Among Grant's suggestions for controlling abuse are user authentication and access control, sales order entry and management, and tracking remakes and voids.

Additional symposia on dispensing-related topics will continue today, Nov. 14, at 45-minute intervals beginning at 10:00 a.m. through 2:15 p.m. in the Dispensing Solutions Pavilion, Booth 2272, Sands Expo and Convention Center.