CALIFORNIA BRIEFING / SACRAMENTO

California public health officials issued $25,000 in administrative fines to 10 hospitals throughout the state, including three facilities in Orange County and two in Ventura County, for failing to comply with licensing requirements, authorities said Tuesday

Among the hospitals cited was Anaheim General Hospital, which has received two previous fines and was faulted a third time for “potentially hazardous food-handling practices.”

Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center, which has received one previous fine, was penalized for failing to ensure “safe and accurate administration of medications.”

And in Santa Ana, Western Medical Center received its first administrative penalty for failing to investigate an alleged assault “in a timely manner.”

Facilities are allowed by law to appeal the administrative penalties.

-- Rong-Gong Lin II