Basically Tuesday was a pretty slow day at my internship. I mainly had down time during the first half of the day, and the second half of the day was spent helping my supervisor edit Interview Reports that his agents had written up. One of them was really interesting to read as it was from someone involved in the case that I had observed the search warrant for the previous week. The reports are much more interesting to read when you know what they are referring to!
Friday, in the morning, I helped one of the agents pick data from a database containing tons of information. This was for a case in the making, mainly at its beginning stages. She needed to know billing activity for a certain doctor in a medical practice. I was glad to help and was proud that I have developed some Excel skills from my current job at Suffolk that were able to help in my internship. She was very thankful for the finished product that I provided her with.
I later went with two agents to meet the chief criminal U.S. Attorney who specializes in criminal health care related issues. I listened as she told the agents about a tip she got relating to a medical related situation. This would be step one of the process, getting tips that could eventually turn into something to be investigated, then a criminal case, and eventually hopefully a conviction. It was interesting to see Step 1 of the process.
The last part of the day I spent with an employee who works for a different division under the Office of Inspector General, the Office of Evaluations and Inspections (OEI). She said they are often described as the “big picture people.” From what I understand, her office works with data to identify what the Office of Investigations needs to be focusing on within the Dept of health and Human Services. She says lately they have focused on issues related to Part D of Medicare, which addresses prescription drug coverage. She showed me an article about a convicted criminal who was charged with rape by fraud-he was a man who worked at his father’s (who was a doctor) office performing Ob-Gyn related procedures despite the fact that he did not have a license to do so. Very interesting case (and freaky, especially as a female)!
Again, my one class was good this week. We spent the class discussing the book “Life Without Parole: Living in Prison Today” by Victor Hassine. A prisoner who was housed in many different Pennsylvania prisons and serving life without parole writes this book. I had read the book in Undergrad at UD. It was very good and sparked interesting conversation in class. It makes for a great class when people share their opinions, get involved in discussion, etc. I’ve been observing that there are a few people who speak a lot and like to join in discussion, whereas the rest of the class doesn’t talk so much. Hopefully as people become more comfortable, they will join in more often. It makes everything better-more interesting, more learning, passes the time-when people get involved.
Next week we have an essay exam with questions relating to the first two books we have read. I suppose it is something like a midterm; however, we’ve only had four weeks of classes, and have eight more to go before the end of the semester. Whatever it is, whether a midterm or not, I am beginning to prepare for it today (Sunday). He gave us a list of 7 questions and we can prepare for them ahead of time. Then, on exam day, he will choose four of the questions to test us on. Lately, I’ve noticed that only taking one class has caused me to set the school work on the back burner. Whereas the previous two semesters, it seemed like homework was my life, it's different this time around! This week I am trying to get started early as to avoid that for the remainder of this semester!
