​On August 21, 2014, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) completed Phase I Beta Testing of a new General Acute Care Hospital (GACH) Relicensing Survey process. On July 1, 2015, CDPH will begin Phase II pilot-testing of the new GACH Relicensing Survey process. The new survey process will evaluate a GACH’s compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements of licensure in California pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 1279(c) and will include the requirements that were previously evaluated separately through the Medication Error Reduction Plan and Patient Safety Licensing Surveys.

The goal of the pilot-testing phase is to ensure that the process will produce consistent, fair, and useful information for both facilities and consumers before statewide implementation. Pilot surveys conducted for Phase II will be unannounced and may result in a Statement of Deficiencies requiring a Plan of Correction. If no deficiencies are identified during the survey, CDPH will send a letter notifing the GACH of this finding.

To provide GACHs the ability to evaluate their readiness for this new survey process, the procedures, surveyor tools, and other related documents are available at:

General Acute Care Relicensing Survey

If you have any questions, please contact your respective district office.

Sincerely,

Original signed by Jean Iacino

Jean Iacino
Deputy Director