Home

  • Home
    • » e-Newsletters

State fines California county over health center security

Healthcare Security Weekly, December 11, 2006

State regulators fined Contra Costa County $20,805 for failing to provide adequate security at a Richmond (CA) health center, after the county removed a uniformed safety employee from the premises, the Contra Costa Times reported.

County officials have appealed the Cal-OSHA fine and dispute the state's findings, insisting the center, which contains medical offices and an outpatient clinic for people with mental health issues, is safe, the newspaper reported.

Patients frequently bring concealed weapons into the center, Cal-OSHA said. State regulators initiated the fine after county supervisors earlier this year decided to remove public safety officers from the Richmond center and health clinics in Pittsburg and Martinez.

Cal-OSHA's investigation and regulatory action took place before a November 7 shooting outside the Richmond center's entrance. That incident did not involve patients at the clinic. However, since the shooting, county officials have stationed an armed deputy in the health center when it is open for business.  

Most Popular