Eastern Shore Rural Health has established a telephone number for patients and families with questions and concerns about the arrest of one of its nurse practitioners on charges of distributing child pornography.
The number, 757-678-1523, directs callers to leave a message. A member of Rural Health’s leadership team will return the call, the health care provider reported on its website.
Lucas Allen Fussell, 42, of 25527 Coastal Blvd., Onley, was arrested in a morning raid Tuesday, July 16, by the FBI and charged with distribution of child pornography.
Rural Health Chief Executive Officer Jennette Edwards said in a statement Wednesday night that Fussell, a nurse practitioner clinical director and family nurse practitioner, has been fired from his job.
“These criminal charges were a shock to all of us at Eastern Shore Rural Health,” said Edwards in a statement. “All our staff are required to adhere to the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct, and we condemn any contrary behavior.
“We want to reassure our patients, their families, and the community at large that our top priority is the health, safety and security of all our patients.”
Edwards said she was told Tuesday afternoon of his arrest. She said patients who have appointments with Fussell will be called to reschedule with another provider.
Edwards did not say whether Rural Health plans an internal investigation into Fussell’s actions.
In addition to allegedly sharing images of child pornography, court records show Fussell shared explicit genitalia descriptions of male adult and child patients he saw at the Onley Community Health Center, where he was employed.
Rural Health, the Eastern Shore’s largest healthcare provider with 34 medical providers on staff and almost 91,000 medical visits in 2023 alone.
Fussell made an initial court appearance Tuesday and was jailed pending a hearing scheduled for Friday, July 19, at 2:30 p.m. in U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Columbia.
While it is unknown whether pornographic images Fussell allegedly shared included his patients, documents reveal Fussell shared detailed descriptions of his patients on an encrypted messaging device.
Fussell joined Rural Health in 2012.
