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PALM SPRINGS, Calif – March 23, 2022 - In 1994, Senate Bill 1953 was enacted in California, requiring all hospitals to meet certain structural and non-structural seismic requirements by 2030. The requirements for all hospitals are defined and regulated by the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI – formerly OSHPD).
Desert Healthcare District (District) is working with Tenet Healthcare (Tenet) and healthcare consultants to ensure that Desert Regional Medical Center (DRMC) in Palm Springs remains in full compliance by the 2030 deadline. The hospital and campus is owned by the District, and Tenet has leased and operated the hospital since 1997. During its tenure, Tenet has met all deadlines and is in compliance with current regulatory seismic standards to safely operate DRMC.
The next milestone will be January 2024, and will require the completion of a full, non-structural, engineering evaluation, which Tenet and the District will provide to HCAI.
“The safe delivery of healthcare to our community, staff and physicians will always be our top priority,” said Michele Finney, CEO of DRMC. “We will continue to work closely with the District for engineering studies, surveys, and assessments as we collectively approach the overall deadline of seismic compliance by January 1, 2030.”
"The non-structural evaluation is the most recent step in a robust compliance process," said Conrado Bárzaga, Desert Healthcare District and Foundation CEO. "The Healthcare District Board and staff look forward to identifying with stakeholders the best course of action to achieve compliance with state regulations while continuing delivery of care services for Coachella Valley residents and visitors."
About the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation
The Desert Healthcare District is a local government agency formed in 1948. Its mission is to achieve optimal health at all stages of life for all District residents. The District includes more than 400,000 residents and encompasses the entire Coachella Valley. The District and Desert Healthcare Foundation, together, are one of the largest funders in the valley. These funds are used to assist residents — especially the underserved — in accessing vitally needed resources.
About Desert Regional Medical Center
Desert Care Network is an integrated healthcare system consisting of three acute care hospitals and 30 affiliated entities, including ambulatory surgery centers, and various clinics and ancillary services, across the desert. The hospitals are Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, JFK Memorial Hospital in Indio, and Hi-Desert Medical Center in Joshua Tree. We serve many diverse communities throughout the desert, enabling the more than 125,000 patients we treat every year to access quality, coordinated care and advanced specialty services at convenient locations close to where people live, work and play. We are a community built on care.
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