9 Area Hospitals Fined for Patient Safety Violations, Deficiencies

• Brotman Medical Center, Culver City, Los Angeles County. The hospital failed to implement policies and procedures to ensure safe and effective administration of medications. This is the facility’s first administrative penalty.
• Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County. The hospital failed to accurately implement its blood transfusion policies and procedures. This is the facility’s first administrative penalty.
• Los Angeles County, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, Los Angeles County. The hospital failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient when the hospital did not follow its surgical policies and procedures. This resulted in a patient having to undergo a second surgery to remove a retained foreign object. This is the facility’s fourth administrative penalty.
• Saint Francis Medical Center, Lynwood, Los Angeles County. The hospital failed to execute policies and procedures to ensure safe and effective use of medications. This is the facility’s first administrative penalty.
• St. Jude Medical Center, Fullerton, Orange County. The hospital failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient when the hospital did not follow its surgical policy and procedure. This resulted in a patient having to undergo a second surgery to remove a retained foreign object. This is the facility’s first administrative penalty.
• University of California Irvine Medical Center, Irvine, Orange County. The health and safety of a patient was jeopardized when the hospital failed to follow its policies and procedures for fall prevention. This is the facility’s first administrative penalty.
• University of California Irvine Medical Center, Irvine, Orange County. The hospital compromised the safety of a patient when an allegation of physical assault was not investigated timely. The right to considerate and respectful care was not ensured. This is the facility’s second administrative penalty.
• University of California, San Diego Medical Center, San Diego, San Diego County. The hospital failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient when the hospital did not follow its surgical policies and procedures. This resulted in a patient having to undergo a second surgery to remove a retained foreign object. This is the facility’s second administrative penalty.
• Scripps Mercy Hospital, San Diego, San Diego County. The hospital failed to follow its policies and procedures for the use and maintenance of respiratory equipment. This is the facility’s second administrative penalty.
• Whittier Hospital Medical Center, Whittier, Los Angeles County. The hospital failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient when it did not follow established policies and procedures regarding identification of a patient prior to a surgical procedure. This is the facility’s first administrative penalty.

The administrative penalties were issued under authority granted by Health and Safety Code section 1280.1 which took effect January 1, 2007.