California department of Public Health issues penalties to 10 hospitals

Editor's Note

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) on August 31 issued 10 penalties to 10 California hospitals along with fines totaling $618,002.

Of these, three applied to the OR:

• Loma Linda University Medical Center, Murrieta−a patient sustained a full thickness thermal burn injury to the left calf from a bipolar cautery device during surgery.
• Sharp Memorial Hospital, San Diego−a patient had a retained lap sponge in her abdomen for 11 weeks.
• St Joseph Hospital, Eureka−a surgeon left a patient during the middle of a hysterectomy to perform an emergency c-section.

CDPH issues administrative penalties under Health and Safety Code section 1280.1, and for deficiencies constituting an immediate jeopardy violation.