California Department of Public Health Fines 10 Hospitals Total of $625K

On Thursday, the California Department of Public Health fined 10 California hospitals a total of $625,000 for violations that endangered patients' health or led to their deaths, HealthLeaders Media reports (Clark, HealthLeaders Media, 6/7).

DPH has imposed $11.9 million in fines against 150 hospitals in the state since 2007 and has collected $8.8 million, according to agency officials.

Details of Violations

The fines were imposed for errors that occurred at the hospitals from 2009 to 2011.

Some of the violations included:

Leaving surgical objects inside of patients after operations (O'Neill, "KPCC News," KPCC, 6/6);
Failing to follow procedures to prevent a patient from falling out of a bed; and
Providing the wrong medication to patients (HealthLeaders Media, 6/7).

Details of Fines

The finesÂ levied by DPH include:

$25,000 for Fallbrook Hospital District;
$50,000 for California Pacific Medical Center-St. Luke's Campus Hospital in San Francisco;
$50,000 for Children's Hospital of Los Angeles;
$50,000 for Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital;
$50,000 for Simi Valley Hospital & Health Care Services;
$50,000 for St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka;
$75,000 for Marin General Hospital in Greenbrae;
$75,000 for Tri City Medical Center in Oceanside;
$100,000 for California Pacific Medical Center-Pacific Campus Hospital in San Francisco; and
$100,000 for Palomar Health Downtown Campus (DPH release, 6/6).

The hospitals can appeal the fines (KTVU, 6/6). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.