Robert Pittenger Fills Us In On The Federal Investigation Process
From a comment on this same blog, signed by Robert Pittenger:
Most, if not all investigations at the federal level take longer than at the local level.
The two systems have different processes. 15 years ago, if a Decatur Police officer received a complaint, he/she would investigate and act accordingly using "probable cause" to base their decision on what action to take. As opposed to a federal agent who will take weeks, months, or years, to discuss their findings with prosecutors, then collectively they decided to charge or not to charge the offender. It takes a special person to be able to make those split second decisions, I'll take the "good street cop" any day. But realistically, both systems work quite well.
When talking about a health care related matter, the issues, rules, regulations, and laws, are so complex that causes even more due diligence on the part of the investigators and prosecutors, thus lenghtens any investigation. And those are never (to my knowledge) done at the local level.
I cannot answer your question about any specific investigation, but normally a health care matter will take years to prepare for court, or settle.
On the federal level if there is no action taken, be it an indictment or a civil law suit, the general public will never hear about it, because it never existed.
On the other hand, indictments and civil law suits are normally announced in some manner, be it a news conference or in a press release. Those issues are normally made public by the lead attorney and/or the United States Attorney of the appropriate Federal District. And, there are always exceptions.
I hope that addressed your questions.
Robert A. Pittenger
Most, if not all investigations at the federal level take longer than at the local level.
The two systems have different processes. 15 years ago, if a Decatur Police officer received a complaint, he/she would investigate and act accordingly using "probable cause" to base their decision on what action to take. As opposed to a federal agent who will take weeks, months, or years, to discuss their findings with prosecutors, then collectively they decided to charge or not to charge the offender. It takes a special person to be able to make those split second decisions, I'll take the "good street cop" any day. But realistically, both systems work quite well.
When talking about a health care related matter, the issues, rules, regulations, and laws, are so complex that causes even more due diligence on the part of the investigators and prosecutors, thus lenghtens any investigation. And those are never (to my knowledge) done at the local level.
I cannot answer your question about any specific investigation, but normally a health care matter will take years to prepare for court, or settle.
On the federal level if there is no action taken, be it an indictment or a civil law suit, the general public will never hear about it, because it never existed.
On the other hand, indictments and civil law suits are normally announced in some manner, be it a news conference or in a press release. Those issues are normally made public by the lead attorney and/or the United States Attorney of the appropriate Federal District. And, there are always exceptions.
I hope that addressed your questions.
Robert A. Pittenger
posted by Watcher2300 at 3/02/2006 11:42:00 AM
3 Comments:
Thank you Mr. Pittenger for filling us in.
I wonder why Mr. Smithmier is still pushing and so gungho on cost-cutting? I've heard my friends who work at DMH say they're having more and more of their benefits cut, supposedly all in the name of "saving money."
Have you seen the full-page ads that St. Mary's is running in the Decatur Tribune? Fantastic! The administrators of the hospital (Rindler included) are asking anyone who's been steered away from St. Mary's (ie: told they can't be operated on at St. Mary's whenever they need to be) to call and let them know. Each ad is signed by someone in administration and contains both the work and HOME numbers of the signer.
So is this investigaton being bought by DMH or is justice going to be served.
Mr. Pittenger are you still investgating or have you retired once again?
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