Hospitalization data

Thank you for contacting the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to obtain public records.
Your Public Records Act (PRA) request dated April 20, 2020, is being processed.  Reference Number P008675-042020 has been assigned for tracking purposes.  Please refer to this reference number for use when accessing the CDPH Public Records Center Portal to monitor the progress of your request.
CDPH strives to answer all requests for public records in as timely a manner as possible.  Under California law, CDPH must respond to your inquiry no later than ten calendar days from receipt of the request to notify you whether records will be disclosed.   Note that some records are exempted from disclosure.  If the requested records are exempt, we will inform you in writing as to why.
The Public Records Act (see Govt. Code §6250 et. seq.) provides that CDPH may extend the response period for up to 14 calendar days should it be necessary to search for records located at off-site facilities or if the request involves a voluminous amount of records.  We will notify you within 10 days of receipt of your request if a 14-day extension is necessary.  If fees are involved, CDPH will need to collect the fees before releasing the records.  However, there is typically no fee for records released electronically through the Public Records Center Portal.
The 10- and 14-day response periods are to allow CDPH time to determine how long it will take to disclose the requested records.  Depending on the number of records requested or other factors, a response may take longer.  CDPH will do its best to provide documents on a rolling basis as they become available and to keep you informed as to the timing and type of records to be released.
Please visit the CDPH Public Records Center Portal to monitor request progress, communicate with CDPH staff processing your request and to submit future requests. (https://u8387778.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=6HtRfOYLt5fXvpttM-2FU1HQ1R6mDyNr08rZ6Xr876D-2FDx-2BqZeG4SK-2FSyKlrb-2Bw7nwjXnT9qPJWeeIPMPdfx-2Bjzg-3D-3Dirl7_UQ38zf0d0fPy5DWAK7LNR6YBuofeJfEV9uvd4TAJOnC7IpE6CKF4eiz9vInb9z3MVWFx9azbSE1XcpLtFbbxxFQGqrrxlIe9nDNpOi0dAIuiCjt0B8L9TOmQoLIip6K8shmzE4rUjG5EielQjBgKIzqIaer-2Fa5NM3kq0RxPyC8fBVqOYClxg-2FcwOIzKk-2Fa6SEYevkxdDoIuep2DsQormDWMnUAl5nNz4cVi7KPRu1vkGYbH02TFWZWZueTqYMEQCPt8wLbGsRYthw2SXmkqk3OU2eX9xjqGhS8iSCBWkqm8mC-2BWOrhdxbFi3oQr0p86nMEtWWXcQ1k-2FggO8jof8FoWiAVu89vKuY0bgQp2BNuzDMkXu3gUaPkdgXvoZUGkBUCEM9C50d6SEOXxBX-2FKDD2Q-3D-3D)
California Department of Public Health

April 30, 2020 RE: Public Records Act Request, Reference Number P008675 Dear Ben Welsh On April 20, 2020, the Department of Public Health (CDPH) received your request for the following records under the Public Records Act: An electronic copy of the database that powers this public dashboard. https://public.tableau.com/views/COVID-19PublicDashboard/Covid-19Hospitals?:embed=y&:display_count=no&:showVizHome=no I am requesting the full time series of data with all data columns in data tables. The map on the dashboard clearly shows there is hospital-level data that is not available for download elsewhere on the site. I request that it be included along with the rest of the release. CDPH is in the process of gathering and reviewing the requested records.  As you are aware, California is currently in a declared state of emergency. CDPH staff are working on COVID-19 seven days a week and CDPH cannot pull staff from these vital activities. Your request will take extra time to fulfill because of this emergency and because of the need to:
To consult with another agency having substantial interest in the request or among two or more components of the agency having substantial subject matter interest.
In the case of electronic documents, to compile the public records through programming language or a computer program, or to construct a computer report to extract the public records. Consequently, CDPH is exercising its authority under Government Code section 6253(c), to extend the time to reply to a Public Records Act request.  By May 14, 2020, CDPH will notify you as to its determination of whether records will be disclosed and, if not, the basis for the determination.  CDPH will do its best to provide documents on a rolling basis as they become available and to keep you informed as to the timing and type of records to be released. We thank you for your patience and look forward to providing you the documents as quickly as possible during this emergency. Thank you, Matt Conens
To monitor the progress, update this request, or download responsive records, please log into the Public Records Center. (https://u8387778.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=6HtRfOYLt5fXvpttM-2FU1HQ1R6mDyNr08rZ6Xr876D-2FAqPXFcBVlfxZdsY52OWGxyfcJpMN3ST5P5Uqct7bQIRqG2X53N5PLrNKFMXXNe77-2FrkAjy7PwDiqGo0HYlUiYrZRj__UQ38zf0d0fPy5DWAK7LNR6YBuofeJfEV9uvd4TAJOnC7IpE6CKF4eiz9vInb9z3MVWFx9azbSE1XcpLtFbbxxH0mq64GuKiSFXxYzRwK3-2BQzMwyO3nkYg126ceYUvyGo0CFYJStBkEywkm0T55vmwtbZzY-2BH-2F-2BbJaKz7-2BhEdpRu4DhqhPno1UP07sXVhDURgvBPzNX-2Frq3Kwoj5A1dw1i1Qv-2FT33pcs42cdIxuGMbp6YCutrioaL-2FFAfZrt-2BAkLAYgrzB8hyjYRZ0PO8pEdQ4DOz8ZAfOgtXSETGQb-2F1-2FayoPVcCwfshh1iNFsmLm6olgoKaYxCP-2FZiEMVTIQ-2FJ38A3MVhoPZmuvBdhhUeIBPV56XTGI0mVQrMAh-2FLrL8PR5)

May 14, 2020 RE: Public Records Act Request, Reference Number P008651 Dear Ben Welsh, The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) received your Public Records Act request on April 20, 2020 for: An electronic copy of the database that powers this public dashboard. https://public.tableau.com/views/COVID-19PublicDashboard/Covid-19Hospitals?:embed=y&:display_count=no&:showVizHome=no I am requesting the full timeseries of data with all data columns in data tables. The map on the dashboard clearly shows there is hospital-level data that is not available for download elsewhere on the site. I request that it be included along with the rest of the release. CDPH possesses records that may be responsive to your request, although we may not have the single comprehensive record that you describe. The records you are requesting contain data that are sub-parts of data CDPH publishes on CDPH’s website, as you noted in your request.  However, some of this data contained in these records is privileged or exempt from disclosure–for example, identifying positive ICU cases by county could risk de-identifying the patient in some small counties.  CDPH is subject to many privacy laws, and if your request asks for information subject to the privacy laws we need to redact or withhold records (PRA at Gov. Code, § 6254, subd. (c)). If you would like to narrow your search further, either through limiting search terms or a smaller time frame, it may expedite the completion of your request. Some records may be subject to other exemptions under the Public Records Act, such as exemptions for records reflecting attorney work product or attorney-client privileged communications (Evid. Code, § 954), specific exemptions under federal or state law, and records that reveal the deliberative process of the leadership of CDPH (these exemptions are in the PRA at Gov. Code, § 6254, subd. (k), and Gov. Code, § 6255; other exemptions may also apply). We will provide you with an update on your request within two weeks. Thank you, Matt Conens

Ben, CDPH wants to provide youwith an update on your request. We are still in the process of reviewing thedocuments responsive to your request for applicable privileges and exemptions.We hope to provide you with responsive records in approximately two weeks. Thanks, Matt

June 3, 2020 RE: Public Records Act Request, Reference Number P008675 Dear Ben Welsh, The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) received your Public Records Act request on April 20, 2020 for: An electronic copy of the database that powers this public dashboard. https://public.tableau.com/views/COVID-19PublicDashboard/Covid-19Hospitals?:embed=y&:display_count=no&:showVizHome=no I am requesting the full timeseries of data with all data columns in data tables. The map on the dashboard clearly shows there is hospital-level data that is not available for download elsewhere on the site. I request that it be included along with the rest of the release. CDPH has records responsive to your request and they are now ready for you to download. Due to the personal health information involved the level of data we believe can be released in response to your request is now available for download and review. CDPH is subject to many privacy laws, both federal (such as HIPAA) and state. The records CDPH receives do contain information that either directly identifies individuals or would allow re-identification of individuals, and so we have followed de-identification guidelines to protect the privacy of the individuals and their families in accordance with the exemptions under the Public Records Act in Government Code sections 6254(c) and 6254(k). This concludes your request. Please tell us if you have any questions. Thank you, Matt Conens