The California Department of Public Health has issued $775,000 in fines to nine hospitals, which failed to comply with licensing requirements in a way that caused or was likely to cause serious injury or death to patients at the facilities.
Among the hospitals receiving first time penalties are: San Diego-based Alvarado Hospital Medical Center (fall prevention failure, $50,000), Los Angeles-based Antelope Valley Hospital (retained foreign object, $50,000), Merced-based Mercy Medical Center (breach in patient care policies, $50,000).
Fresno-based Community Regional Medical Center received its second (cardiovascular surgery policy breach, $75,000) and third (breach in medical staff rules and regulations, $100,000) penalties.
Both San Jose-based Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (breach of safe medication distribution and administration policies, $100,000) and San Diego-based Sharp Memorial Hospital (breach in surgical policies, $100,000) received their fourth penalties.
Torrance-based LAC/Harbor-UCLA Medical Center received its fifth penalty (breach of patient monitoring and intervention procedures).
Fullerton-based St. Jude Medical Center received its sixth penalty (breach of fall prevention procedures, $100,000).
Mission Viejo-based Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center received its seventh penalty (breach of central line catheter policy, $100,000).
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