Authorities are investigating accounting irregularities at St. Louis Shriners Hospital for Children, according to KSDK News.
According to hospital staff, thousands of dollars may have been misappropriated.
"It was, I think, very difficult for all of us to accept that anyone would violate a trust that we would hold sacred at this institution," said John O'Shaughnessy, a hospital administrator. "Nevertheless, occassionally there are gaps and someone manages to find a way to beat the system."
Tammy Robbins, the Director of Public and Community Relations, said the person involved has been dismissed from employment at the hospital.
The hospital released a statement Thursday afternoon: "Our employees take very seriously the responsibility of being excellent stewards of the funds entrusted to us. We deeply regret that one individual's actions may tarnish Shriners Hospitals' upstanding reputation and that of the 6,000 honest, dedicated staff members throughout our health care system."
Shriners Hospital for Children provides medical care for children with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate, at no charge to patients.
