California Hospitals Face Deadline for Submitting Seismic Safety Updates

By Monday, more than 225 California hospitals must submit updated plans for complying with state seismic safety regulations, according to the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reports.

OSHPD said that each of the hospitals have at least one building at risk of collapse in the event of an earthquake.

New Reporting Requirements

Starting this year, California hospitals will need to submit annual updates to OSHPD on:

• The seismic safety status of each building in need of repairs;
• The number of patient beds in each at-risk buildings; and
• The facility's average length of patient stay.

Possible Repercussions

OSHPD spokesperson David Byrnes said the state will not impose penalties on hospitals that fail to file annual reports or show improvements in seismic safety.

However, the California Department of Public Health has the authority to close hospitals that fail to meet state-mandated seismic safety deadlines. About 720 hospital buildings are required to remodel to meet a 2013 seismic safety deadline, while other hospital buildings have until 2015, 2020 or 2030 to make repairs, depending on certain risk factors.

James Lott, executive vice president of the Hospital Association of Southern California, said as many as 30% of California hospital facilities could face closure because they cannot afford to repair or replace buildings (Hines, Riverside Press-Enterprise, 10/27).