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Hospital Ramps Up Ward Security

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By VALERIE KALFRIN

vkalfrin@tampatrib.com

Published: February 14, 2009

TAMPA - St. Joseph's Hospital has installed an electronic monitoring system and a camera in its psychiatric ward to better observe patients after a state agency investigated a December rape reported there, documents state.

The state Agency for Health Care Administration reviewed an incident Dec. 4 for which Tampa police accused a 39-year-old homeless man being treated in the psychiatric ward of raping a 32-year-old female psychiatric patient.

In a copy of a report made available Friday, the state agency says its investigation confirmed allegations "the facility failed to prevent sexual contact between psychologically impaired patients."
Thomas Kelly Bolduc is charged with felony sexual battery and felony lewd or lascivious battery upon an elderly or disabled person, according to online court records. He has pleaded not guilty and is being held at Falkenburg Road Jail. Bail is set at $200,000, records show.
Bolduc is accused of entering the woman's room, which was across the hall from his, during a 15-minute time frame between regular rounds. Police said he raped the woman on a bathroom floor, but Bolduc, in the state agency's report, says the sex was consensual.

"We were in the TV room, smiled at each other," he said in the report. "We have feelings for each other, so she agreed and then I did it but I am confused now. I don't know whether it happened or not."

The hospital installed a camera in the hallways and an electronic monitoring system to document the 15-minute checks on each patient's location, the report states.

"We truly did carefully review this situation and take action to create an even safer environment," hospital spokeswoman Lisa Patterson said.

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800.

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