$1 Million Tabbed For Veterans

Absences, Baggy Pants Draw District's Attention

By DAVE JANOSKI; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Thursday, August 08, 1996 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A 





JACKSON TWP. -- Employees at the state Correctional Institution at Dallas
have been using state-funded medical services meant only for inmates for at
least four years, said a former health care worker recently interviewed by
state investigators. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It's been a professional courtesy for as long as I can remember," Sheila
Golightley said Wednesday. "It's been done for years and years." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Golightley, 36, of Plymouth, worked as a phlebotomist for Corning Clinical
Labs at the prison for four years until she was fired July 26. She said the
practice was in place when she began working there. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Golightley said she was given no reason for her termination and she has
hired an attorney to represent her. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I don't believe I should have lost my job," said Golightley, who declined
further comment. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Al Reynolds, a spokesman at Corning Labs' New Jersey headquarters, said the
company would have no comment, but would cooperate in any investigation. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Golightley and an employee of another medical company contracted by the
prison say they were fired in connection with the employees' alleged use of
prison medical services. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The other employee, Noreen Brzozowski, was the administrator at the prison
for Correctional Physicians Service Inc. of Bluebell, which manages prison
medical services for state prisons in the eastern third of the state. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Brzozowski said she was fired for blowing the whistle when she learned
prison employees were using the medical services intended for inmates. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Brzozowski said an internal prison investigation showed that prison
employees were given blood and other medical tests that were submitted to
Corning Labs and billed to the state under fictitious inmates' names. On
Tuesday, a spokesman for Brzozowski's former employer denied her charge that
she was fired for calling attention to the irregularities. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The state Department of Corrections and the state Inspector General's
Office are investigating the allegations, according to officials from the
prison and its contractors. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Those involved in the case would not speculate on the cost of the medical
services allegedly used by prison employees or on the number of procedures
performed. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Department of Corrections spokesman Roger Baumgarten would not discuss the
details of the investigation, but said appropriate measurers would be taken if
violations were found. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "If there was criminal conduct we would certainly press charges. We would
certainly take action against employees who violate our code of ethics. All of
our employees have a code of ethics they are expected to follow," Baumgarten
said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 State Correctional Institution at Dallas Superintendent David Larkins
declined comment on the case Wednesday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It would be inappropriate for me to comment while the investigation is
ongoing," Larkins said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 State Inspector General Nicolette Parisi, whose office is charged with
detecting and preventing fraud, waste and abuse in state agencies, would
neither confirm nor deny her office was conducting a probe. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The prison in Jackson Township has 1,900 inmates. It has 360 guards and
about 25 nurses who are state employees. Correctional Physician Services has a
staff of seven at the prison and contracts with doctors, hospitals and other
health-care providers to provide inmate services. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Prison Service Misuse Not New, Ex-worker Says 
Second Former Health 
Care Contract Worker At 
The State Prison At Dallas 
Says Employees Have Used 
Service Meant For Inmates 
For At Least Four Years

Prison Service Misuse Not New, Ex-worker Says Second Former Health Care Contract Worker At The State Prison At Dallas Says Employees Have Used Service Meant For Inmates For At Least Four Years