CDPH ISSUES 16 ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES TO 13 HOSPITALS

Date: 1/27/2010 

Number: 10-006 

Contact: Al Lundeen (916) 440-7865 

SACRAMENTO 

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced today that 13 California hospitals have been assessed administrative penalties after a determination that the facilities' noncompliance with licensing requirements has caused, or was likely to cause, serious injury or death to patients.

"Ensuring quality patient care is vital to protecting and promoting the health of all Californians," said Dr. Mark Horton, director of CDPH. "We will continue to work with California hospitals to attain our shared goal of excellence in patient care."

The following hospitals received penalties:

1. California Hospital Medical Center, Los Angeles [1], Los Angeles County. The hospital failed to implement its established policies and procedures for the safe and effective administration of medication. This is the first administrative penalty issued to this hospital. The penalty is $50,000.

2. Grossmont Hospital, La Mesa [2], San Diego County. The hospital staff failed to follow the policies and procedures for surgical and invasive procedures. This is the second administrative penalty issued to this hospital. The penalty is $50,000. The first administrative penalty was issued in August 2008.

3. Hoag Memorial Hospital, Newport Beach [3], Orange County. The hospital failed to protect the health and safety of a patient while providing diagnostic services. This is the hospital's third administrative penalty. The penalty is $50,000. The first administrative penalty was issued in August 2008 and the second was issued in September 2009.

4. John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital, Indio [4], Riverside County. The hospital failed to implement its established policies and procedures for the on-going assessment and monitoring of patients and failed to follow procedures for the safe administration of medication. This is the first administrative penalty issued to this hospital. The second, third and fourth penalties have also been issued today. Each penalty is $25,000.

5. John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital, Indio [5], Riverside County. The hospital failed to ensure nursing staff competency and failed to follow procedures for the safe administration of medication.

6. John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital, Indio [6], Riverside County. The hospital failed to ensure nursing staff competency and failed to follow the hospital's policies and procedures for the on-going assessment and monitoring of patients.

7. John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital, Indio [7], Riverside County. The hospital failed to follow its policies and procedures for the on-going assessment and monitoring of patients and failed to follow procedures for the safe administration of medication.

8. Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Oakland/Richmond [8], Oakland, Alameda County. The hospital failed to implement policies and procedures for the safe administration of medication. This is the first administrative penalty issued to this hospital. The penalty is $50,000.

9. Los Angeles Community Hospital (Norwalk Campus), Los Angeles [9], Los Angeles County. The hospital failed to execute its policies and procedures to follow physician orders when providing patient care. This is the first administrative penalty issued to this hospital. The penalty is $50,000.

10. Marina Del Rey Hospital, Los Angeles [10], Los Angeles County.  The hospital failed to follow its policies and procedures for on-going assessment and monitoring of its patients. This is the first administrative penalty issued to the hospital. The penalty is $25,000.

11. San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco [11], San Francisco County. The hospital failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient when the hospital did not follow its surgical policies and procedures. This resulted in a patient having to undergo removal of a retained foreign object. This is the first administrative penalty issued to this hospital. The penalty is $25,000.

12. Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose [12], Santa Clara County. The hospital failed to follow its policies and procedures to provide a comprehensive and accurate assessment of a patient. This is the first administrative penalty issued to the hospital. The penalty is $50,000.

13. Sharp Memorial Hospital, San Diego [13], San Diego County. The hospital failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient when the hospital did not follow its surgical policies and procedures. This resulted in a patient having to undergo a second surgery to remove a retained foreign object. This is the first administrative penalty issued to this hospital. The penalty is $50,000.

14. St. Jude Medical Center, Fullerton [14], Orange County. The hospital failed to follow its policies and procedures for on-going assessment and monitoring of a patient. This is the second administrative penalty issued to the hospital. The penalty is $50,000. The first administrative penalty was issued in May 2009.

15. University of California, San Diego Medical Center, San Diego [15], San Diego County.  The hospital failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient when the hospital did not follow its surgical policies and procedures. This resulted in a patient having to undergo a second surgery to remove a retained foreign object. This is the third administrative penalty issued to this hospital. The penalty is $50,000. The first administrative penalty was issued in May 2008 and the second was issued in May 2009.

16.  Western Medical Center, Santa Ana, Santa Ana [16], Orange County. The hospital failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient when the hospital did not follow its surgical policies and procedures. This resulted in a patient having to undergo a second surgery to remove a retained foreign object. This is the second administrative penalty issued to this hospital. The penalty is $50,000. The first administrative penalty was issued in March 2009.

The administrative penalties were issued under authority granted by Health and Safety Code section 1280.1. Incidents in this news release occurred in 2008 and 2009.

Incidents that occurred in 2008 carry a fine of $25,000. Incidents that occurred in 2009 carry a fine of $50,000 for the first violation, $75,000 for the second, and $100,000 for the third or subsequent violation at the same facility. Penalties issued prior to 2009 are not counted in this total.

The difference in fine amounts is due to a new law that took effect January 1, 2009. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation (Senate Bill 541 by Senator Elaine Alquist) to more than double administrative penalties for violations or deficiencies constituting an immediate jeopardy to the health and safety of patients.

Facilities are required to implement a plan of correction to prevent future incidents. Facilities can appeal an administrative penalty by requesting a hearing within 10 calendar days of notification. If a hearing is requested, the penalties are to be paid if upheld following appeal.

All hospitals in California are required to be in compliance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations governing general acute care hospitals. The hospitals are required to comply with these standards to ensure quality of care.