University rad department audit cites moonlighting, conflict of interest & more

An audit critical of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) department of radiology found issues with physician moonlighting, conflicts of interest and outside contracts.

The internal audit was requested by the dean of the UAMS College of Medicine in April 2012 and has spurred the University of Arkansas System to expand the investigation, according to Arkansas Online.

The initial report, dated Jan. 16, presented findings of the audit, which examined control processes in the UAMS department of radiology from January 2010 to April 2012.

Among the issues uncovered by the audit were:

  • Physicians moonlighting and providing professional services to external organizations and not complying with UAMS policy for such activities.
  • Medical Investments of Little Rock, a company under the same corporate control as Medical Assets Holding Company, which operates the PET center and cyclotron at UAMS, paid UAMS employees in a diversion of funds owed to UAMS. None of the employees disclosed these payments on conflict of interest forms.
  • Employees who received checks from Medical Investments of Little Rock thought the company was affiliated with UAMS because UAMS’s name appeared on the checks and other correspondence.
  • Contracts with outside imaging groups were not prepared in the proper name of the University of Arkansas board of trustees, were not signed by authorized personnel and did not have extensions to the current period.
  • UAMS policies and procedures for reporting travel expenses and leaves of absence were not followed.

“The established system of internal control over the UAMS Department of Radiology needs to be strengthened in the above documented areas in order to enhance the adequacy, effectiveness and accuracy over financial reporting and ensure compliance with applicable University of Arkansas Board of Trustees policies, State of Arkansas laws and campus policies and procedures,” read the report.

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