An employee has taken their own life at the Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara (Calif.) Medical Center, the hospital's physician-in-chief confirmed.
Police responded to reports of a shooting April 27 at the Kaiser campus, Santa Clara Assistant Chief of Police Wahid Kazem said, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Mr. Kazem told the publication multiple officers went to the hospital, but they did not lock down the facility. Kaiser staff isolated the area where the shooting occurred.
"Our hearts go out to the family, friends and co-workers affected by this terrible loss," Rakesh Chaudhary, MD, physician-in-chief at Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center said in a statement shared with Becker's.
"Our teams are on site providing emotional support and resources for staff," he continued. "We are grateful to our employees and physicians who responded immediately and for the compassionate outpouring of support our Santa Clara team is receiving from colleagues at Kaiser Permanente and other healthcare systems."
As a police investigation continues, the hospital is open to care for patients, Dr. Chaudhary said.
Dr. Chaudhary also said Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center is cooperating with Santa Clara authorities in their investigation.
"Out of respect for the privacy of our colleague and their family, we cannot provide any additional details," he said.
Although there are not additional details about the Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center worker, issues of mental health and stress among healthcare workers have been highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Concerns related to staffing and working conditions have also been factors in recent negotiations between hospitals and labor unions.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources.
To learn more, click here or call 1-800-273-TALK.