Nine California Hospitals Penalized Over Reports Of Negligence
The hospitals faced fines for incidents including not taking steps to prevent patients' suicides and not following rules on high-risk medication, among other claims.
The Mercury News:
California Hospitals Fined For Serious, Sometimes Tragic Mistakes
Investigators found that the hospital had failed to provide a safe environment for the elderly suicidal patient and prevent him from carrying out his plan. Among other issues, the hospital staff did not tell a security guard, who was monitoring the patient from a video camera behind the nurses’ station, that he was suicidal. The hospital issued a statement saying that the suicide “deeply saddened our patient care team and everyone involved. When a patient is in our hospital, our priority is to provide care with integrity and compassion.” (Seipel, 1/8)
In other hospital news —
Ventura County Star:
Groundbreaking For Oxnard Hospital Expansion Set
A ground-breaking celebration will be held Thursday at St. John's Regional Medical Center in Oxnard for the hospital's emergency department expansion, a new neuroscience center and several other projects. The ground-breaking is open to the public and will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the hospital, 1600 N. Rose Ave., Oxnard. The hospital's modernization and expansion project is set for completion by April 2019. It includes nine additional exam rooms in the emergency department, expansion of the neonatal intensive care unit, upgraded labor and delivery rooms and other changes. (Kisken, 1/8)