MONTEREY PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Garfield Medical Center issued the following statement today regarding the consent decree it has entered into with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to settle claims dating back to 2007:
“While we disagree with the EEOC’s characterization of events, we fully support and intend to comply with all of the provisions in the consent decree, many of which will be incorporated into Garfield Medical Center’s existing policies and programs that address discrimination, harassment or retaliation in the workplace. In fact, because of the significant steps the hospital took when the claims first surfaced, the training and other programs we put in place at that time already meet or exceed many of the requirements in the consent decree. Furthermore, the individual involved was counseled and eventually fired.
“We decided to enter into the decree in order to avoid expensive and protracted litigation and are pleased to have this matter concluded. Our willingness to agree to the terms in the decree underscores our commitment to provide our employees, physicians, and patients with a comfortable and professional work environment that is free of discrimination. The hospital’s dedicated team can now move ahead without distraction as we focus on our core mission – providing the highest quality of care to the patients we serve.”