A former employee has accused Lurie Children’s Hospital of firing her because she reported alleged problems in its pharmacy to state regulators.
Christina Christner, who worked as a pharmacy technician at the hospital from August 2023 until April 2024, filed complaints with management and regulators alleging unsanitary practices with medication, according to her lawsuit. She was fired a week after state investigators visited the hospital, the lawsuit states.
“It was horrible; it was terrible,” Christner said Tuesday about her time working at Lurie. “Their concern was not about the patients. Their concern was saving money and doing what they’ve always done, and not being current with new regulations, technology.”
In the suit, Christner accused the hospital of reusing single-use vials of medications up to four days after they were first used — past their 12-hour expiration.
She also alleged pharmacy technicians reused gloves while compounding medication for patients, reused single-use fluid bags and used rubbing alcohol to clean surfaces instead of sterile alcohol, according to court documents.
Lurie Children’s Hospital, in a statement to the Sun-Times on Tuesday, denied the allegations.
“Lurie Children’s consistently prioritizes safe, high-quality care to the patients and communities we serve and fosters an ethical workplace for our employees,” a spokesperson said.
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