California Hospitals Deemed Seismically Unstable

Officials neglect to inform public and identify more at risk sites.

State and hospital officials have found significant structural weaknesses in more than 20 hospital buildings throughout California. More than a dozen of the seismic targets are located in Southern California. 

At the same time, officials have neglected steps to inform the public about the safety issues and have forgone plans to identify more potentially dangerous sites.

The hospitals in question have significant risks of crumbling during an earthquake. The Hollywood Community Hospital of Hollywood ranks in the top 5 riskiest hospitals, retaining a little more than 20 percent chance of collapse during an earthquake.

Risk percentages were determined by the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development and included factors like structure strength, distance from a fault line and expected ground motion in a major seismic event.

Despite little public notice, the state has mandated that the hospitals be retrofitted or replaced in anticipation of seismic events. If the hospitals in question cannot fulfill the safety requirements, they must remove patients by 2013 or 2015. California Watch reported that only six of the hospitals had submitted plans for update by last month.

California Watch is releasing a report this weekend with a more inclusive list of hospitals.

Initial List of Risky Hospitals

FacilityCityBuilding ICollapse Risk
Kindred Hospital OntarioOntarioBuilding I31.75%
Citrus Valley Medical Center - QV CampusWest CovinaMain Building30.36%
Kindred Hospital - San Francisco Bay AreaSan LeandroOriginal Building23.62%
Hollywood Community Hospital of HollywoodHollywoodOriginal Building20.55%
St. Mary's Medical Center San FranciscoSan FranciscoMcAuley Wing17.37%
Beverly HospitalMontebelloMain/Utility/Tower (Block VI)15.48%
San Francisco General HospitalSan FranciscoMain Hospital14.47%
California Hospital Medical Center - Los AngelesLos Angeles1964 Tower13.20%
Kindred Hospital - Los AngelesLos AngelesOriginal Building - Building I12.89%
Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health CenterGlendaleJuncture Building12.62%
Brotman Medical CenterCulver CityPavilion10.70%
Long Beach Memorial Medical CenterLong Beach1A -1K Main Tower & Additions9.81%
John Muir Medical Center, Concord CampusConcordElevator/Stair Tower9.74%
Citrus Valley Medical Center - QV CampusWest CovinaSouth Wing Addition9.45%
Eisenhower Medical CenterRancho MirageEisenhower Wing (North)9.45%
Eisenhower Medical CenterRancho MirageEisenhower Wing (South)9.45%
Little Company of Mary - San Pedro HospitalSan PedroCentral Wing Tower9.03%
Centinela Hospital Medical CenterInglewoodWest Tower8.47%
Huntington Memorial HospitalPasadenaValentine Building8.24%
Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health CenterGlendaleOriginal Building7.86%
Little Company of Mary - San Pedro HospitalSan PedroWest Wing & Entrance Canopy7.80%
Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health CenterGlendale1942 Building7.47%

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