HospitalInspections.org

Based on observation and staff interview, the facility failed to post conspicuously at each entrance to the emergency department a sign specifying the rights of individuals under section 1867 of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) related to the right of individuals to be examined and receive treatment for emergency medical conditions and women in labor, and information indicating whether or not the hospital participates in the Medicaid program under a State plan approved under Title XIX.

Findings were:

During a tour of the hospital emergency department on the morning of 2/8/17, conducted with Staff #2, Chief Nursing Officer, it was noted there was no sign at the ambulance emergency entrance which stated that the critical access hospital did not have a doctor of medicine or a doctor of osteopathy present in the hospital 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, and thus did not indicate how the hospital would meet the medical needs of any patient with an emergency medical condition as defined in 42 CFR 489.24 (b), related to the definition of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). Thus in addition, there was no information posted at the entrance related to the right of individuals to be examined and receive treatment for emergency medical conditions and women in labor, nor information indicating whether or not the hospital participated in the Medicaid program under a State plan approved under Title XIX. Patients were able to access the emergency department through the ambulance entrance.

In an interview with Staff #2 during the tour, she stated, "We just recently re-painted in here a few months ago and I'm sure those signs just came down at that time and didn't get put back up ..."