Message from the chief operating officer

Christiana Care is steadfast in our commitment to the safety and well-being of our patients, employees and all visitors to our campuses.

The Delaware State Police have issued a press release identifying a suspect in the case of inappropriate touching first reported late last year. The suspect is a former first year medical resident at Christiana Care.

The prompt and thorough work of our Department of Public Safety when the allegations first surfaced, and information we shared with the State Police from our robust health information technology system, was instrumental to the process. We quickly identified the medical resident as a person of interest, and took swift action to prevent any further patient contact. As a result of our preliminary investigation, he was suspended and upon further investigation dismissed from employment.

Our rapid response when the allegations were first reported revealed no systemic issues contributed to this incident. As an organization guided by learning, we are continuing a thorough review of best practices in hospital security to determine if there are any new security measures we should adopt.

We remind and encourage all patients and family to always ask health care providers to identify themselves, explain why they are there to see the patient, and explain the care provided to them. All Christiana Care employees are required to prominently display their identification badges.

We deeply regret the alleged incidents and our concern for the affected patients is shared throughout our health system.

Gary Ferguson
Chief Operating Officer