SAN DIEGO -- Two San Diego County hospitals were fined -- one for leaving an item in a patient during surgery and the other for failing to prevent a fatal fall -- state health regulators said Thursday.

Each of the hospitals was fined $25,000 per violation after an investigation by the California Department of Public Health.

The CDPH fined Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center for failing to ensure the health and safety of a patient who had to undergo a second surgery to remove a retained medical object.

Tri-City Hospital District Oceanside failed to ensure the health and safety of a patient when it did not follow its policies and procedures for fall prevention. A patient at the hospital fell from a bed and fractured her hip and later died after surgery.

The administrative penalties were issued following legislation signed last year by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to protect the health and safety of hospital patients.

"Ensuring all Californians receive quality patient care is our top priority," said Dr. Mark Horton, director of the CDPH.

A total of 11 hospitals in California were fined by the CDPH Thursday for failures that caused, or were likely to cause, serious injury or death to patients.