Report: California Hospital Cited for Safety Violations

Federal inspection reports show a major Los Angeles, Calif., hospital had unclean and unsafe operating rooms and failed to protect its patients from possible infection.

The documents, obtained by the Los Angeles Times, say operating rooms at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center were kept at the wrong humidity level, which can lead to the spread of germs, and staff members weren’t washing their hands according to policy.

Inspectors also found rooms that had holes in the ceilings or that were dusty and cluttered.

After the inspection earlier this year at the county-run institution, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services sent a letter threatening to revoke Medicare funding, a move that could financially destroy the hospital.

The Times says the county has submitted a plan of correction. The federal agency hasn’t issued its follow-up report.