Report Finds Many Hospitals Need Extensive Seismic Retrofitting

Nearly four out of 10 California acute care hospital buildings "pose a significant risk of collapse and danger to the public after a strong earthquake," according to a new report from the Statewide Office of Health Planning and Development (Rapaport, Sacramento Bee, 3/29). Under revised seismic standards established after the 1994 Northridge earthquake, all hospitals must "assure that [their] buildings won't collapse in a significant quake" by 2008 -- 2013 if "the buildings are expected to remain in use 30 years from now," the San Francisco Chronicle reports. By 2030, hospitals must be able to withstand a major earthquake and "continue functioning immediately afterward" (Russell, San Francisco Chronicle, 3/29). The state study compiled mandatory reports from 430 acute care hospitals that encompass roughly 2,500 buildings and found that in addition to the 39% of hopsitals that pose a significant risk of collapse, 72% "fail to meet state requirements for anchoring basic systems essential to life safety and patient care" (Simerman, Contra Costa Times, 3/29). In addition, almost 50% of the hospitals "will have to be upgraded or replaced to meet" the 2030 standards. Here is a breakdown by county of teh number of hospitals that fall into the "significant risk of collapse" category:

• San Francisco: 61%
  
• San Mateo: 51%
  
• Santa Clara: 41%
  
• Contra Costa: 15% (San Francisco Chronicle, 3/29).
  
• Los Angeles: more than 50%
  
• Orange and Ventura: 33% (Rohrlich, Los Angeles Times, 3/29).
  

According to the Contra Costa Times, the report "sets the stage for a high-stakes political debate" over who should pay for hospital upgrades and whether the deadlines for improvements "should be shoved back or scrapped" (Contra Costa Times, 3/29). Industry officials have estimated that it will cost hospitals $12 billion to meet the 2008 deadline and $24 billion to meet the 2030 deadline. And the seismic regulations come at a time when two-thirds of hospitals statewide are losing money. The California Healthcare Association has requested that $4 billion to $5 billion in bonds be issued to help hospitals meet the 2008 deadline, and lawmakers are considering legislation that would relieve some of the financial burden (Los Angeles Times, 3/29). Sen. Jackie Speier (D-San Mateo) has introduced a bill (SB 842) that would "delete the deadline requirements" and give hospitals more time to retrofit their facilities. Assembly member Dion Aroner (D-Berkeley) also has proposed legislation that "would establish conditions and priorities for the use of taxpayer money" for seismic upgrades. However, critics contend that the industry has engaged in "foot-dragging on safety upgrades." Sal Rosselli, president of Service Employees International Union Local 250, said, "I think [the hospitals] are trying to panic lawmakers into either postponing these deadlines, or giving them public funds" (San Francisco Chronicle, 3/29). To view the full report, go to http://www.oshpd.state.ca.us/specialnotices/sb1953rating.pdf. Note: You will need Adobe Acrobat to view the report.