The California Department of Public Health has issued 17 penalties to 14 hospitals across the state, with fines totaling more than $1.1 million. The penalties were levied following department investigations finding the hospitals were noncompliant with licensing requirements that caused, or were likely to cause, serious injury or death to patients.
Three hospitals were fined $100,000 apiece, which under current CDPH regulations indicates a repeat offense.
Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs was fined that amount after the department said the facility failed to follow policies and procedures regarding treatment and care, jeopardizing the health and safety of a patient.
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital in San Francisco and Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa were fined the same amount, for the same reasons. In Kaiser's case, it was their fourth such penalty. Queen of the Valley received three penalties, the other two totaling $75,000 and $50,000.
LAC/Harbor UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City and Sutter Davis Hospital in Davis were fined for not following surgical policies.
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Regulations adopted on April 1, 2014 allow CDPH to assess penalties for incidents occurring on or after that date for anything that constitutes an immediate violation. A maximum of $75,000 can be levied for the first administrative penalty, up to $100,000 for the second, and up to $125,000 for the third violation, and every subsequent one, within three years.
When hospitals receive their survey findings, they are required to provide CDPH with a plan of correction to prevent future incidents. Hospitals can appeal an administrative penalty by requesting a hearing within 10 calendar days.
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The other hospitals fined include Aurora Vista Del Mar Hospital in Ventura; Bakersfield Memorial Hospital; California Pacific Medical Center-St. Luke's Campus Hospital in San Francisco; Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura; Garden Grove Hospital and Medical Center; PIH Hospital in Downey; Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital; Sequoia Hospital in redwood City; and White Memorial Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Twitter: @JELagasse