A recent investigation by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) into the safety compliance of California hospitals resulted in penalties for three San Diego County facilities. The penalties were issued for noncompliance that the CDPH found to have caused, or was likely to cause, serious injury or death to patients.

One of the facilities receiving penalties was the Fallbrook Hospital District, which failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient when it did not follow established policies and procedures for safe distribution and administration of medication. This was the hospital’s first administrative penalty and it was issued a $25,000 fine.

The CDPH also levied a $100,000 penalty on Palomar Health Downtown Campus in  Escondido for failing to ensure the health and safety of a patient when it did not follow established policies and procedures related to care.  Palomar Health Downtown Campus has now received three such administrative penalties.

Also among those issued penalties, Tri City Medical Center in Oceanside, was issued a $75,000 penalty. The penalty, also its third, was issued for failure to ensure the health and safety of a patient when it did not provide for the safe transfer of a patient.

Along with the monetary penalties a facility receives, the CDPH requires a plan of correction to prevent future incidents.  All California hospitals 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 and maintain the safety of patients.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of mistreatment at a hospital or similar facility that resulted in serious personal injury, please call Berman & Riedel, LLP at (858) 350-8855 to discuss your rights. Learn more about our elder abuse practice by visiting our page www.bermanlawyers.com/elder-abuse/.