CHAPEL HILL—UNC Health Care confirms to Spectrum News that officials have launched an internal investigation into an employee accused of embezzlement.

• UNC Health Care has identified a suspected misappropriation of funds at one of its clinics
• No word on how much money was involved or how many patients may have fallen victim
• A source tells Spectrum News that employee had to be escorted from the building last week

Director of Communications, Phil Bridges, released a statement saying:

UNC Health Care has identified a suspected misappropriation of funds at one of its clinics within the UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill and is working with affected patients to ensure that all accounts accurately reflect payments submitted. An employee allegedly involved in this situation has been put on leave while UNC Health Care conducts an internal investigation.

Bridges wouldn't identify the employee or elaborate on the accusation. No word on how much money was involved or how many patients may have fallen victim.

“It's still terrible. It's still something that shouldn't be done because people have enough trouble paying their bills already,” said Ronnie Kelly, who's visiting his wife in the hospital.

“That's very surprising as people spend their lives coming here to get patient care,” said Sheila Davis, a patient.

Davis says she'll keep an extra eye on her finances.

“So I'll definitely go back and look from now on that my money went to the right place,” she said.

A source tells Spectrum News that employee had to be escorted from the building last week. The Orange County District Attorney's Office says it hasn't been alerted yet.