Alta Bates fined for serious safety violation

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center has been fined $71,000 due to a violation of safety procedures.

The hospital allegedly did not place 23 suspected tuberculosis patients in working isolated treatment rooms causing exposure to the risk of potential infection to other Alta Bates patients, staff, and visitors, according to World Tech Today.

It is also alleged that the facility did not provide a sufficient number of Powered Air Purifying Respirators which is a violation to the new regulations adopted in November. The new regulations were put in place as an effort to take care of patients believed to have Ebola.

Back in 2012, the violation was exposed but just recently has been in the public eye as state officials were investigating another violation that took place in 2009. The 2009 violation had debilitated an Oakland Police Officer and a respiratory technician from what was referred to as consequent exposure to meningococcal disease.

“It is important that all hospitals take up full responsibility of equipping themselves with functional isolation rooms so as to protect the public from epidemics that are easily spread.” Said CNA co-president Zenei Cortez while emphasizing that there had been an Ebola crisis in the recent months that is still on the rise.

Sutter Health is fighting back the California Nurses Association accounts of accusations. Sutter Health has said that the review of data of the hospital indicates that there were no patients or staff ever put at risk.

Alta Bates will not only have to pay the fine but also will be required to document its efforts in ensuring that precautions are being taken and changes to correct the violations. A revision of its disease exposure control plan will be necessary as will obtaining enough respirators and having an airborne infection isolation ward.

Be social, please share!

Facebooktwittergoogle_plusredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmail