PORT TOWNSEND — The latest state audit of Jefferson General Hospital detected a problem with cash handling at four clinics managed by the health district.
Officials of Jefferson County Public Health Care Service District No. 2 say the problem has been corrected.
In the finding — the Washington State Auditor’s Office term for an accounting problem — it was noted that money being handed over the counter at the clinics wasn’t adequately reported.
The problem could “increase the risk that public funds could be misappropriated, lost or misused,” the March 19 audit report noted.
The hospital agreed with the finding, and noted that there “appeared to be no dishonesty or loss of funds.”
Hospital Administrator Vic Dirksen was out of town Wednesday and unavailable for comment.
But the audit report includes a statement from the hospital noting that new policies are in place for better reporting of money, giving customers receipts and billing cash customers.
The Auditor’s Office will make sure the changes took care of the problem during the next audit.
