Pocono News Section

I-Team Update: Patients May Soon Get Their Files

I-Team Update: Patients May Soon Get Their Files - Thursday, April 3, 2008 at 5:34PM EST

Reported by: Jeff Chirico
Thursday, Apr 3, 2008 @05:34pm EST
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY --Possibly 15,000 patients are one step closer to getting their files from a locked-up dentist's office in Wilkes-Barre.It can't come soon enough for some patients suffering from painful tooth problems.Consumer and I-Team reporter Jeff Chirico has been investigating this case and has the developments you'll only see on WBRE News.

Word today that the office doors could be open for patients to get their files within days or weeks.

Dr. Irwin Ufberg died last year. His widow appointed a friend to run the place but when Mrs. Ufberg died a month ago that friend locked the doors and took off --leaving patients in the lurch.

Annette Yaglowski, one of the practice’s patients says “I'm very disgusted. I'm in a lot of pain.When Annette Yaglowski of Luzerne went for her appointment last month, she found Keystone Dental in Wilkes-Barre locked up. “I was devastated. There was no phone call. Nothing!"The I-Team has learned that the consultant who ran the office after Dr. Irwin Ufberg's death changed the locks after Ufberg's widow died in February --leaving employees without pay and possibly 15 thousand patients --most on medical assistance-- without their files, dentures and x-rays.

"I'm sure I'm not the only one from Dr. Ufberg's office that this happened to but it shouldn't happen."

Setting it right required action by this court house. Ufberg lived in Montgomery County --and that's where his will is filed.When his wife died, and the next family member in line refused to serve as executor, Montgomery County court appointed an attorney to handle the estate and help patients get their files.

Marvin Wilenzik/attorney"If this is the wild west, somebody would hang for this."

Attorney Marvin Wilenzik of Blue Bell is outraged that the consultant --a man named David Mahon--left town without notifying or helping patients. "I don't know his motivation but I know this is dead wrong and our job is to correct it."

He vows to change the locks soon, get the files to patients and possibly re-open the practice.

Police still have not determined the manner of Mrs. Ufberg's death. The investigation continues into that. Stay tuned to WBRE for the latest on this case and when the files will be available.