The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has announced that nine California hospitals have been assessed administrative penalties following the CDPH's surveys on each facility. The surveys indicated the facilities' non-compliance with licensing requirements have "caused, or was likely to cause, serious injury or death to patients."

Under a new law that took effect in 2009, fines for administrative penalties have increased. A first violation has a fine of $50,000, a second $75,000, and $100,000 for the third or subsequent violations in the same facility. Hospitals are allowed to appeal the penalty through a hearing.

According to a CDPH press release and the official CDPH surveys, the hospitals assessed for 2009 and later noncompliance in licensing requirements include:

-Alameda County Medical Center, Oakland; second penalty, for failure in implementing safe distribution and administration of medication. The CDPH survey indicates this incident resulted in the death of a patient.
-Hi-Desert Medical Center, Joshua Tree; first penalty, for failure to follow surgical policies and procedures. The CDPH survey indicates this led to injury of a patient.
-Marin General Hospital, Greenbrae; first penalty, for failure to ensure the health and safety of a patient by not following surgical policies and procedures. The CDPH survey indicates this led to a foreign object being left in the patient after surgery.
-Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center, Mission Viejo; first penalty, for failure in implementing safe distribution and administration of medication.
-Parkview Community Hospital, Riverside; first penalty, for failure to follow informed consent and surgical policies and procedures.
-Pomerado Hospital, Poway; second penalty, for failure to follow policies and procedures for fall prevention. The CDPH survey indicates this led to the injury of a patient, who later expired.
-Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego; first penalty, for failure in implementing safe distribution and administration of medication. The CDPH survey indicated this led to the potential of injury to the patient.
-Scripps Green Hospital, La Jolla; which has two separate penalties, the first for failure follow surgical policies and procedures, the second for failure to follow surgical policies and procedures for equipment cleaning. The CDPH survey indicates the second incident led to potential exposure to blood-borne pathogens.
-Tri-City Medical Center, Oceanside; second penalty, for failure to follow surgical policies and procedures. The CDPH survey indicates this incident led to burn injuries on the patient.

Adapted in part from a CDPH press release.

Link: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/Pages/NR10-036.aspx

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