Three Orange County hospitals were among 10 statewide that were fined $25,000 each for various shortcomings, the state
Department of Public Health officials said Tuesday.
Anaheim General Hospital failed "to ensure comprehensive oversight and management of the dietary department, resulting in potentially hazardous found handling practices," according to the Department of Public Health.
In each case, the problems "caused, or was likely to cause, serious injury or death to patients," according to a public health spokesperson.
Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center was cited when "it did not follow its policies and procedures for the safe and accurate administration of medications," according to the state.
Western Medical Center in Santa Ana was cited because it "compromised the safety of a patient when an allegation of physical assault was not investigated in a timely manner," according to the state, which noted that the administrative penalty was the first for the hospital.
Elsewhere in Southern California, Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista was fined for failing to have "safe, effective and timely system for dispensing and administering medications." The fine was also the hospital's first.
