Most Calif. Hospitals Poised To Meet Seismic Safety Standards
The Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development recently released data estimating that 82% of California's hospitals will be compliant with state seismic safety standards by 2015, Payers & Providers reports (Payers & Providers, 2/3).
Background
State law requires hospitals to replace, retrofit or remove patients from certain at-risk buildings by 2013 or 2015. Hospitals placed in a lower-risk category have until 2030 to meet seismic safety regulations.
If a hospital fails to meet its seismic safety deadline, the state can revoke the facility's license, effectively shutting down the hospital (California Healthline, 11/8/10).
Report Details
OSHPD's report is based on data submitted by hospitals. The report found that:
- By Jan. 1, 2013, 403 buildings associated with 129 hospitals are expected to comply with state seismic safety standards; and
- By Jan. 1, 2015, another 153 buildings associated with 55 hospitals are expected to comply.
OSHPD reported that it expects buildings at 16 hospitals to be insufficiently compliant with seismic safety regulations by 2020. Hospitals that fail to meet the deadlines might be forced to halt inpatient admissions (Payers & Providers, 2/3).
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