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CDPH Issues Penalties to Nine Hospitals

Date: December 28, 2017
Number: 17-089
Contact: Corey Egel | 916.440.7259 | CDPHpress@cdph.ca.gov

SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued 10 penalties today to nine California hospitals along with fines totaling $549,555 after investigations found the facilities’ noncompliance with licensing requirements caused, or was likely to cause, serious injury or death to patients.

The following hospitals received penalties for incidents that occurred between 2014 and 2017. Please click on the link below for specific incident information:

1. California Pacific Medical Center – Davies Campus Hospital, San Francisco, San Francisco County (2015)
The hospital failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient when it did not follow established policies and procedures regarding medication errors. The penalty is $47,452.50. This is the hospital’s first Immediate Jeopardy administrative penalty.

2. California Pacific Medical Center – Davies Campus Hospital, San Francisco, San Francisco County (2016)
The hospital failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient when it did not follow established policies and procedures regarding the treatment and care of a patient. The penalty is $66,600. This is the hospital’s second Immediate Jeopardy administrative penalty.

3. Desert Regional Medical Center, Palm Springs, Riverside County (2014)
The hospital failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient when it did not follow established policies and procedures regarding the treatment and care of a patient. The penalty is $82,500. This is the hospital’s fifth Immediate Jeopardy administrative penalty.

4. Doctors Medical Center, Modesto, Stanislaus County (2016)
The hospital failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient when it did not follow established policies and procedures regarding patient abuse. The penalty is $47,250. This is the hospital’s first Immediate Jeopardy administrative penalty.

5. Methodist Hospital of Sacramento, Sacramento, Sacramento County (2015)
The hospital failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient when it did not follow established policies and procedures regarding medication errors. The penalty is $47,452. This is the hospital’s first Immediate Jeopardy administrative penalty.

6. Palmdale Regional Medical Center, Palmdale, Los Angeles County (2016)
The hospital failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient when it did not follow established policies and procedures regarding the safety of a patient. The penalty is $49,500. This is the hospital’s first Immediate Jeopardy administrative penalty.

7. Regional Medical Center of San Jose, San Jose, Santa Clara County (2017)
The hospital failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient when it did not follow established policies and procedures regarding medication errors. The penalty is $33,300. This is the hospital’s second Immediate Jeopardy administrative penalty.

8. Riverside Community Hospital, Riverside, Riverside County (2014)
The hospital failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient when it did not follow established policies and procedures regarding medication errors. The penalty is $31,500. This is the hospital’s second Immediate Jeopardy administrative penalty.

9. Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County (2015)
The hospital failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient when it did not follow established policies and procedures regarding the safety of a patient. The penalty is $100,000. This is the hospital’s third Immediate Jeopardy administrative penalty.

10. UC San Diego Health Hillcrest – Hillcrest Medical Center, San Diego, San Diego County (2015)
The hospital failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient when it did not follow established policies and procedures regarding the safety of a patient. The penalty is $44,000. This is the hospital’s seventh Immediate Jeopardy administrative penalty.

CDPH issues administrative penalties under authority granted by Health and Safety Code section 1280.1. Incidents that occurred prior to 2009 carry a fine of $25,000. On 
January 1, 2009, the fines increased for incidents that occurred in 2009 or later. Under this provision, an administrative penalty carries a fine of $50,000 for the first violation, $75,000 for the second, and $100,000 for the third or subsequent violation by the licensee.

As of April 1, 2014, regulations allow CDPH to assess an administrative penalty for incidents occurring on or after said date, against a specified licensee for a deficiency constituting an immediate jeopardy violation up to a maximum of $75,000 for the first administrative penalty, up to $100,000 for the second, and up to $125,000 for the third and every subsequent violation 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 ten calendar days of notification. If a hearing is requested and the penalty upheld following an appeal, the penalties must be paid.

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