Two University of Iowa workers face discipline in hidden baby monitor case

University of Iowa officials say they have concluded an internal investigation into the use of a baby monitor to eavesdrop on staff at a medical clinic, and that two employees were disciplined as a result.

Tysen Kendig, UI vice president for strategic communications, today released a statement saying two unnamed UI Hospitals and Clinics staff members involved in the incident were disciplined. But officials declined to discuss specifics.

“University of Iowa Health Care has completed its internal investigation into the monitoring of staff interactions at UIHC. Appropriate disciplinary action has been taken against two UIHC staff members involved in the incident. Details of that disciplinary action are considered confidential personnel information,” the statement says.

The investigation also determined that no violations of HIPPA laws, which govern privacy of patient records, occurred as a result of this incident, UI officials said.

Several employees of the urology clinic at UI Hospitals and Clinics said they discovered the baby monitor Monday morning, on a shelf near their front desk work area. The workers say their supervisor admitted to putting the baby monitor there to determine if they were talking too much. The workers also said a human resources employee knew of the supervisor's baby monitor plan.

A statement e-mailed to all UI Health Care employees from UI officials Wednesday afternoon said it was an “extremely unfortunate situation,” but added it has been determined that no conversations were transmitted via the baby monitor. The statement came from UI Vice President for Medical Affairs Jean Robillard and Associate Vice President for UI Health Care Human Resources Jana Wessels.

“As part of this investigation, it has been determined that no conversations were transmitted. In addition, there is no evidence of any HIPAA violation,” the statement said. “UI Health Care regrets this extremely unfortunate situation, which is not in keeping with our organization's values or sound supervisory practice.”

The statement from Robillard and Wessels also says the baby monitor was “promptly removed” upon discovery.

John Stellmach, president of AFSCME Local 12, a union that represents 5,000 UI employees, disputes that. Stellmach says the baby monitor remained in place for more than three hours, even after the clerks and secretaries complained to their supervisor about it.

Stellmach, who has acted as the spokesman for the affected urology workers in this incident, said he believes it's warranted and proper that the UI disciplined two employees. But he said he and the affected employees at the clinic still have some concerns about the investigation.

“We still contend … that the girls were monitored” in their conversations,” Stellmach said. “It was admitted to them by both of those individuals that they were monitored.”

It's important that three clerks and two secretaries who complained do not suffer reprisals at work, Stellmach said. Any grievance the union might file hinges on what an investigation by the UI Police finds in this case and any charges that may result from that, he said.

“These ladies put a lot on the line to stand up for themselves,” he said. “We believe their rights were infringed upon.”