Twelve California hospitals face fines totaling $650,000 after medical mistakes that may have contributed to three patient deaths, according to ABC News.
The California Department of Public Health issued fines based on 2009 legislation that increased administrative penalty fines for incidents.
AHMC Anaheim Regional Medical Center was fined $50,000 for noncompliance of patient care and surgical policies. Similarly, Kaiser Foundation Hospital in San Francisco, Mills-Peninsula Medical Center in Burlingame, Scripps Memorial Hospital in Encinitas, each were fined $50,000 for not following surgical procedures. At the Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla location, the hospital faced a $75,000 penalty for similar violations.
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center in Martinez and Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock were each issued $50,000 in fines for violating medication distribution and administration policies. Likewise, Palomar Medical Center in San Diego and Promise Hospital of East Los Angeles were fined $75,000 and $50,000, respectively, for not implementing medication distribution and administration policies.
Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz was penalized $50,000 for violations of patient monitoring, and Pomerado Hospital in San Diego faces $75,000 in fines for not following fall prevention policies.
All California hospitals are required by law to comply with quality of care regulations or could face penalties.
To learn more:
- read the CDPH press release
- check out the ABC story