In Brief: CDPH Fines Three Hospitals; Cedars-Sinai, MemorialCare Form New Venture
CDPH Fines Three Hospitals $275,000 For Patient Care Incidents
The California Department of Public Health last week levied four administrative penalties and $275,000 in fines against three hospitals for medical errors that either killed patients or endangered their lives.
Alta Bates Medical Center in Berkeley received two penalties related to incidents that occurred last year. In one, a 71-year-old patient being treated at the emergency room after suffering a stroke died after choking on oral medication. The patient had not been properly screened for difficulties swallowing. It was Alta Bates' first administrative penalty, and was accompanied by a $50,000 fine.
Another 71-year-old patient at Alta Bates undergoing a routine cataract procedure had his eye injected with an incorrect dye, requiring a corneal transplant to repair. The penalty was $75,000.
In a 2010 incident that occurred at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, a patient who should have been ambulated with assistance fell while moving around in their room, suffered a head injury and died a week later. It was the first administrative penalty for the hospital, and was accompanied by a $50,000 fine.
Sutter General Hospital in Sacramento received its first administrative penalty and a $50,000 fine for a 2010 incident where an improperly monitored patient fell twice in a 10-minute span and was injured. The patient was not properly assessed for the risk of falling.
Cedars-Sinai, MemorialCare Collaborate On New Venture Company
Two major hospitals operators in Southern California are forming a partnership to foster innovation in the healthcare business.
Cedars-Sinai Health System in Los Angeles and Memorial Care Health System in Fountain Valley have formed Summation Health Ventures. The new company will be used to spur product development to improve the quality of care, patient experiences and cut costs. It will focus on investing in private start-up and early- to mid-stage healthcare firms.
MemorialCare has long invested in startup firms through its Memorial Care Innovation Fund.
“The partnership offers a remarkable platform for entrepreneurs to gain the medical and technological insights critical for widespread adoption of products that positively impact healthcare,” said Brant Heise, Summation Health Ventures managing director. “Highly respected health systems like MemorialCare and Cedars aligned in one strategic investment and innovation vehicle provide multiple opportunities, resources and locations for entrepreneurs to review and bring to market products and services that can positively impact healthcare consumers and organizations.”
Cedars-Sinai and Memorial Care did not disclose how much they are investing in Summation Health. Both will have equal partnerships in the new venture. The two hospital systems also indicated that other partners may be brought on board at a future date.
