Antonovich calls for investigation into King-Drew disciplinary actions

 

 

SUPERVISOR MICHAEL D. ANTONOVICH     Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, 5th District     869 Hahn Hall of Administration ~ 500 West Temple Street ~ Room 869     Los Angeles, CA 90012                                          www.antonovich.com

       

 

PRESS RELEASE

Contact:  Tony Bell, Communications Deputy    Office:  (213) 974-5555   Cell: (213) 215-5176    E-mail:  tbell@bos.lacounty.gov

 

 

   July 8, 2008                                                                                                    For Immediate Release

 

ANTONOVICH CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION INTO

KING/DREW HOSPITAL DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS

 

LOS ANGELES COUNTY – The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich’s call for an investigation into the actions the Health Department has taken to discipline, track and monitor employees from the now-closed King Drew Hospital. 

 

The motion directed the Chief Executive Officer and the Department of Health Services to report back to the board in two weeks with a full review of the Department’s disciplinary actions and policies.  The Department was also directed to report on how a database file summarizing discipline records was lost.

 

“When clinical employees transfer from one health care facility to another, they must be thoroughly evaluated to determine their competency and ability to provide quality care,” said Antonovich.  “The department must keep adequate files and tracking information on disciplined employees to prevent them from being placed in another faculty and jeopardizing patient safety.”  

 

The media had reported that at least 22 employees with significant discipline histories at MLK-Harbor Medical Center still work at the facility or have been reassigned to other County hospitals.

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