Calif. Fines Eight Hospitals for Not Complying With Licensing Rules
On Friday, the California Department of Public Health issued fines against eight state hospitals for failing to comply with licensing requirements, which could have caused patient injury or death, the Orange County Register reports (Perkes, Orange County Register, 2/1).
The hospitals are required to provide DPH with a corrective action plan to prevent future problems. However, the health systems also can appeal the fines.
Details of Penalties
The penalized hospitals include:
- Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, which was fined $50,000 for not following policies and procedures related to patient monitoring and intervention;
- Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center, which was fined $75,000 for failing to establish policies and procedures for patient assessment and advocacy;
- Garden Grove Hospital and Medical Center, which was fined $50,000 for not following policies and procedures related to the safe distribution and administration of medication;
- Los Angeles Community Hospital, which was fined $50,000 for not following policies and procedures related to the safe distribution and administration of medication;
- Mercy Medical Center in Merced, which was fined $75,000 for not following policies and procedures related to the safe distribution and administration of medication;
- Regional Medical Center of San Jose, which was fined $50,000 for not following policies and procedures related to the safe distribution and administration of medication;
- Ronald Regan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, which was fined $75,000 for not following surgical policies which resulted in the retention of a foreign object; and
- St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, which was fined $50,000 for not following established policies related to patient care.