Woodland Hills Medical Center – Kaiser Permanente was among 10 hospitals fined by the state on Wednesday after investigations found the facilities out of compliance with some licensing requirements – to the point patients faced serious harm or death. The Kaiser Foundation hospital was fined $50,000 by the Department of Public Health, specifically for failing to follow policies and procedures for safe distribution and administration of medication. In a statement, Kaiser said it “embraced… accountability and these rare events reinforce our commitment to continuous improvement, patient safety, and high quality care.” A second Los Angeles County facility, Beverly Hospital of Montebello, also was fined $50,000. The department said the hospital had failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient by not following policies and procedures regarding the treatment and care. Its investigation stemmed from a 2012 incident in which a nurse experienced difficulty inserting a feeding tube in a patient. The hospital said it had cooperated with the state and submitted a corrective action plan that was approved and implemented. It was the first such penalty for each medical center. The hospitals can appeal an administrative penalty by requesting a hearing within 10 days of notification. Neither hospital said whether they would appeal.
