State Health Department Employees To Get Ethics Handbook

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Employees at the state Health Department soon will receive a new ethics handbook designed specifically for the agency's employees. Developed by a committee of employees from

Tuesday, September 25th 2007, 6:46 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Employees at the state Health Department soon will receive a new ethics handbook designed specifically for the agency's employees. Developed by a committee of employees from various departments in the state agency, the handbook is designed to help guide employees through potential ethical dilemmas they may face.

The 24-page handbook covers everything from time sheets and hiring practices to political activity, receiving gifts and state purchasing.

A nursing home scandal involving bribery and corruption rocked the department in 2000. The agency's Deputy Health Commissioner Brent VanMeter was convicted and sent to prison and 19 employees were indicted in a "ghost employee" scandal.