DPH Levies $775K in Fines on Eight California Hospitals
Last week, the California Department of Public Health fined eight hospitals a total of $775,000 after officials during department investigations found serious violations of the hospitals' licensing requirements, the Los Angeles Times' "L.A. Now" reports (Merl, "L.A. Now," Los Angeles Times, 7/26).
Details of Penalties
Specifically, DPH issued 10 penalties to eight state hospitals after investigators found that the hospitals' noncompliance with licensing requirements caused or were likely to cause serious harm or death to patients, according to a DPH release.
The facilities that received penalties include:
- Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, which was fined $100,000 for failing to follow surgical policies and procedures. This was the facility's third administrative penalty;
- Kaiser Foundation Hospital in Anaheim, which was fined $50,000 for failing to follow safe medication distribution and administration policies. This was the facility's first administration penalty;
- Kaiser Foundation Hospital in Riverside, which was fined $50,000 for failing to follow surgical policies and procedures. This was the facility's first administration penalty;
- Memorial Hospital Medical Center in Modesto, which was fined $100,000 for failing to follow surgical policies and procedures. This was the facility's fourth administrative penalty;
- Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego, which was fined $100,000 for failing to follow established fall prevention policies and procedures. This was the facility's fifth administrative penalty;
- Southwest Healthcare in Murrieta, which was fined $100,000 for failing to follow surgical policies and procedures and $100,000 for failing to follow patient safety policies and procedures. These were the facility's 10th and 11th administrative penalties;
- St. Bernardine Medical Center in San Bernardino, which was fined $50,000 for failing to follow surgical policies and procedures. This was the facility's second administrative penalty; and
- St. Mary Medical Center in Apple Valley, which was fined $50,000 for failing to follow surgical policies and procedures and $75,000 for failing to follow patient care and treatment policies and procedures. These were the facility's first and second administrative penalties.
Hospitals that received fines are required to provide DPH with correction plans. The facilities can appeal the fines within 10 days of being notified of the penalties (DPH release, 7/24).
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.