Thu, May 8, 2008 (2:05 a.m.)

In another embarrassment for University Medical Center, Metro Police are investigating what could be an elaborate theft ring at the public hospital.

As reported in Wednesday’s Las Vegas Sun by Tony Cook, detectives believe employees were helping their bosses steal UMC property and billing the hospital overtime for doing it. Items allegedly stolen include a water heater, countertops and cabinets.

Detectives have been investigating four former employees two managers and two workers but they have expanded the probe to include the possible involvement of UMC contractors and vendors.

At the foundation of the case, which is expected to go to a grand jury this summer, are the two managers. Police believe they arranged the theft of items and had the employees work on private projects while they were still on the UMC payroll.

Investigators say that from 2002 to 2006 the two employees collected more than $340,000 in overtime. That number should have raised a red flag for hospital administrators, but the managers who would have been the ones to raise questions about the overtime were the two allegedly involved in the theft ring.

UMC has been plagued by anemic oversight and is still trying to recover from the disastrous legacy of Lacy Thomas, the former chief executive who has been indicted on a series of corruption charges.

A UMC spokesman said the overtime policy and procedure have since changed. Nonetheless, as this new case clearly demonstrates, the hospital’s new leaders, Chief Executive Kathy Silver and Chief Operating Officer Brian Brannman, have plenty of work to do. After announcing Silver’s and Brannman’s appointments last month, county leaders pledged there would be more transparency in the hospital’s practices. They also promised a review of hospital practices and policies, followed by appropriate changes.

That is a good start, but to restore the public’s faith in the public hospital, that review will have to be thorough and carried out quickly.