Health
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued 12 penalties to California hospitals along with fines totaling $785,000 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:
– Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Oakland/ Richmond, Oakland, Alameda County: The hospital failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient when it did not follow manufacturer’s instructions for the use of a particular medical device. The penalty is $100,000. This is the hospital’s third administrative penalty.
– Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego, San Diego, San Diego County: The hospital failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient when it did not follow established surgical policies and procedures. The penalty is $75,000. This is the hospital’s second administrative penalty.
– Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Rafael, San Rafael, Marin County: The hospital failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient when it did not follow surgical policies and procedures. The penalty is $50,000. This is the hospital’s first administrative penalty.
– Kaiser Foundation Hospital - South Bay, Harbor City, Los Angeles County: The hospital 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. The penalty is $50,000. This is the hospital’s first administrative penalty.
– Kaweah Delta Medical Center, Visalia, Tulare County: The hospital failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient when it did not follow established maternity care policies and procedures. The penalty is $50,000. This is the hospital’s first administrative penalty.
– Kaweah Delta Medical Center, Visalia, Tulare County: The hospital failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient when it did not follow established policies and procedures related to patient assessment. The penalty is $75,000. This is the hospital’s second administrative penalty.
– Methodist Hospital of Southern California, Arcadia, Los Angeles County: The hospital failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient when it did not follow surgical policies and procedures. This resulted in a patient having to undergo a second surgery to remove a retained foreign object. The penalty is $50,000. This is the hospital’s first administrative penalty.
– Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center, Mission Viejo, Orange County: The hospital failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient when it did not follow surgical policies and procedures. This resulted in a patient having to undergo a second surgery to remove a retained foreign object. The penalty is $100,000. This is the hospital’s fifth administrative penalty.
– Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center, Mission Viejo, Orange County: The hospital failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient when it did not follow surgical policies and procedures. This resulted in the patient undergoing a second surgery. The penalty is $100,000. This is the hospital’s sixth administrative penalty.
– Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center, Fountain Valley, Orange County: The hospital failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient when it did not follow surgical policies and procedures. This resulted in a patient having to undergo a second surgery to remove a retained foreign object. The penalty is $50,000. This is the hospital’s first administrative penalty.
– Sutter Coast Hospital, Crescent City, Del Norte County: The hospital failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient when it did not develop, maintain and implement a fire prevention policy and procedure. The penalty is $10,000. This is the hospital’s first administrative penalty.
– UCSF Medical Center, San Francisco, San Francisco County: The hospital 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. The penalty is $75,000. This is the hospital’s sixth administrative penalty.
Administrative penalties are issued under authority granted by Health and Safety Code section 1280.1. Incidents that occurred prior to 2009 carry a fine of $25,000.
New legislation took effect Jan. 1, 2009, that increased fines for incidents that occurred in 2009 or later. Under the new provisions, 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.
Incidents that occurred prior to 2009 are not counted when determining the fine amounts. CDPH also has the authority to reduce the amount of a penalty issued to a rural hospital.
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.
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UKIAH, Calif. – Known for being both far out and nearby, Ukiah is attracting the attention of those looking for solace and alternative lifestyle.
That’s precisely the reason Jessica Rene Hutchins, M.D., obstetrician and gynecologist, is choosing to move from Georgia and take root in Northern California.
“I set out to find the idyllic town that welcomed a healthy way of living,” said Dr. Hutchins.
Two of Dr. Hutchins’ children have a gluten allergy.
“Our family tries to eat gluten free and organic and live as much as possible in a non-toxic environment, which wasn’t always easy with rich southern food readily available,” she said. “In fact during our first visit to Ukiah while staying at the Stanford House Inn, the owners had prepared an all gluten free breakfast for my family. I knew this was the place for us.”
According to Ukiah Valley Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Gwen Matthews, Dr. Hutchins nicely rounds out what is becoming a boutique Women’s Health Center which focuses on the complete lifecycle of women’s health.
Dr. Hutchins received her medical degree from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. She then completed her residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at the University Hospitals of Cleveland.
“I enjoy working with expectant mothers and helping to bring new life into our world,” said Hutchines. “I’m also extremely interested in treating women with chronic gynecological diseases such as endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, dysmenorrhea, infertility and chronic pelvic pain, just to name a few.”
Dr. Hutchins shared her passion for patient care. “It’s amazing how our bodies can heal themselves if nourished properly – I feel that it’s my job to educate women, and support them through every stage of their lives.”
In addition to relocating to Ukiah, Dr. Hutchins will be joined by her husband Michael, and five children: Emily, Joshua, Michael, Victoria and Gabriel.
She will be seeing patients at the Women’s Health Center located at 1050 N. State St. in Ukiah.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Hutchins call 707-462-2945.
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