Officials with Concord Hospital say staff responsible for placing a camera in the women's locker room have been identified and are facing "swift disciplinary action, up to and including termination," following an internal investigation.
Concord police received a complaint on Thursday, Aug. 21, that a camera was placed in the women's operating room staff locker area, located near the hospital's intensive care unit and operating room.
Concord Hospital President and CEO Robert P. Steigmeyer notified staff of the report in an email.
On Friday, Veronica L. Rosa, the hospital's chief advancement officer, said Concord Hospital Health System (CHHS) completed its internal investigation by Human Resources and Risk Management - which included more than a dozen staff interviews - and confirmed the camera was installed on August 9 as part of an investigation into several reported thefts and removed on August 20.
"The camera was directed at an individual locker, did not capture audio, and access to its recording was limited," Rosa said in a statement.
Both the camera and its recording file have been turned over to the Concord Police Department, whose investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
Rosa said the individuals responsible have been identified and are "facing appropriate and swift disciplinary action, up to and including termination."
"CHHS does not condone the use of cameras in private spaces such as this," Rosa said. "Security cameras are used in public areas and in certain specialized care or medical settings to ensure the safety and security of patients, visitors, staff and property. We are undertaking a comprehensive review of policies and procedures, auditing all surveillance equipment, and providing mandatory leadership training to ensure this does not happen again.
"We deeply regret any distress this incident caused and remain committed to protecting the privacy, safety, and trust of our staff, patients, and community."
Rosa said hospital officials are unable to comment further on the matter, citing the ongoing police investigation.