Seismic deadlines looming for California hospitals

Kern River Valley facing bed shortage in event of disaster


Nearly every hospital in Kern County, Calif., has buildings with inpatient beds that will not meet seismic codes unless costly changes are made, according to an article on the Kern Valley Sun website.

But with Bakersfield's growing population and a lack of beds during construction or building closures there may not be enough hospital beds in the event of a medical disaster.

The only hospital buildings in Kern County with the highest risk rating are Tehachapi Valley’s original hospital building and part of Kern Medical’s Wing G used for support services. 

Other hospital buildings with an SPC-2 rating may struggle after a large earthquake, and are given until January 1, 2030, to complete upgrades or the structures must be closed. 

Read the article.

 

 



August 6, 2018


Topic Area: Safety


Recent Posts

Cleanliness in Hospitals: Clinical Priority and Community Perception

EVS managers and communities value cleanliness for complementary reasons: managers for safety and compliance, communities for trust and comfort.


Dana-Farber Receives $50M Gift for Planned Cancer Hospital

A $50 million grant from the Yawkey Foundation will support construction of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s planned 450,000-square-foot cancer hospital.


Clarinda Regional Health Center Reports Data Security Incident

On or around December 15, 2025, Clarinda learned that certain data within its network may have been accessed without authorization.


Gaps in Nurses' Environmental Cleaning Knowledge Grow Amid Rising EVS Pressures

Environmental cleaning is crucial in preventing HAIs, but when the responsibility falls to those outside of EVS teams, problems arise. 


Ground Broken on the Southern Nevada Forensic Facility

Construction on the new secure forensic psychiatric hospital is expected to be completed in 2029.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.