Aug 18, 2008 12:55 pm US/Pacific
7 L.A. Hospitals Fined Due To Health Mistakes
LOS ANGELES (CBS) ―
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7 hospitals in L.A. were fined by the state Department of Public Health for mistakes that included leaving surgical tools in patients and over-medicating a patient, resulting in that person's death.
CBS
Seven hospitals in Los Angeles and Orange counties were fined Monday by the state Department of Public Health for mistakes that included leaving surgical tools in patients and over-medicating a patient, resulting in that person's death.
"Ensuring all Californians receive quality patient care is our top priority," said Kathleen Billingsley, deputy director of the Center for Health
Care Quality with the California Department of Public Health.
Statewide, fines were levied against a total of 18 hospitals -- some of
which had multiple violations -- for "incidents that caused, or were likely to
cause, serious injury or death to patients."
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance was fined $25,000 for failing to
accurately label tissue specimens, which led to unnecessary surgery for one patient and delayed treatment for another, according to DPH.
The hospital received a second $25,000 penalty for failing to provide
screening examinations and stabilizing medical care in a timely manner for two patients, according to the state healthcare agency.
Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center was fined $25,000 for not
providing adequate nursing staff for a suicide watch to meet the needs of a patient, DPH found.
Five hospitals in Orange County were fined $25,000 per violation cited
by the state.
Anaheim General Hospital received two violations for failing to ensure
medical devices were electronically safe and for failing to maintain the
pharmacy's refrigerated temperatures.
Coastal Communities Hospital in Santa Ana was fined for over-medicating
a patient, resulting in death.
At Fountain Valley Regional Hospital, doctors left a sponge in a patient
following surgery.
At Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, ìhospital staff left a surgical instrument in a patient.
At Los Alamitos Medical Center, a patient died after falling out of a
wheelchair.
State regulators found hospital staff failed to buckle the person into the chair.
The hospitals may appeal the penalties by requesting a hearing within 10
days of notification.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
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