New security measures to be started at hospital

Carson-Tahoe Hospital officials are tightening up pre-employment and security measures in the wake of accusations of sexual assault by an emergency room nurse.

Jason B. Laurie, 28, of Gardnerville, has been charged with felony sexual assault and two gross misdemeanor counts of open and gross lewdness for allegedly abusing two patients while they were under sedation at the hospital.

Laurie was at the top of his class at Western Nevada Community College when he graduated from the nursing program in 2001 and hired at the hospital right after graduation. He was fired Feb. 17.

Carson-Tahoe Hospital's Chief Executive Officer Ed Epperson said it's easier to protect the hospital from errant employees before they are hired, but even that system is less than perfect.

Professional licensing boards do not have access to complete criminal records.

Hospitals are not allowed to discuss an employees background or performance with one another.

A number of measures will be started at the hospital during the next month, including pre-employment screenings that will include criminal record checks and fingerprinting.

"We're going to take a more proactive approach," Epperson said.

Hospital staff will receive additional education, to help them better recognize improper behavior. Video cameras will be located in public hallways. Employees will be required to report anything suspicious to supervisors or the Nevada's Bureau of Nurses' hot line. A "Speak Up" program was started to empower patients and initiate their involvement in their own health care.

Hospital officials admitted Tuesday the Laurie case was not the only problem in recent months.

Within the last few months, three hospital employees were caught putting their photos on an adult Web site and selling their worn underwear through the hospital's computer system. As a result, access to certain Web sites has been terminated and the three employees fired.

In a separate incident, a registered sex offender was hired to work in a position that did not require patient contact.

"One of the mid-level supervisors offered him employment to help him get back into a productive life," Epperson said. "The human resources department officials didn't know and we didn't do a background check."

The employee was fired.

For employment purposes, disclosure of a registered sex offender is left to that individual unless disclosure is specifically asked for on the application.

Laurie remains in Carson City Jail as investigators continue to question more women who have reported being sexually assaulted while being treated in the hospital emergency room.

"We've had a dozen phone calls, discounted one and questioned nine," said

Sgt. Bob White of the Carson City Sheriff's Department.

More charges could be filed against Laurie pending a review of the investigation by the District Attorney's Office, said Chief Deputy District Attorney Anne Langer.

A preliminary hearing scheduled for Friday has been delayed. No new date

has been set.

-- Staff writer F.T. Norton contributed to this story.