HospitalInspections.org

Based on interview and record review the hospital's dedicated emergency department failed to comply with the requirements for the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) at §489.24.

Findings include:

The hospital failed to provide an appropriate medical screening examination to an individual who presented by ambulance to the parking lot of the emergency department (ED) for 1 of 20 patients presenting to the emergency department over the previous six months. (Patient #1). Refer to TAG: 2406.

The hospital failed to provide an appropriate transfer to 1 of 20 sampled patients (Patient #1). Refer to TAG: 2409.

Based on record review and interview, it was determined that the hospital failed to provide an appropriate medical screening examination to an individual who presented by ambulance to the parking lot of the emergency department (ED) for 1 of 20 sampled patients presenting to the emergency department over the previous six months. (Patient identifier is #1)

Findings include:

Review on 3/1/23 of the hospital's Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation (SBAR) report, for an occurrence on 1/26/23, revealed an ambulance arrived at the hospital with a patient exhibiting chest pain. The patient remained on the ambulance and did not receive a medical screening examination. The ED physician did not see the patient, reviewed an EKG strip that had been performed on the ambulance, and directed the ambulance to take the patient to another facility.

Review on 3/1/23 of the facility's policy and procedure titled Emergency Screening, Stabilization and Management of Patient Transfer, dated 4/12/22, revealed "Memorial Hospital must provide an appropriate medical screening examination (MSE) to every individual covered by EMTALA..."

Interview on 3/1/23 at approximately 9:40 a.m. with Staff A (ED Director) confirmed the above findings.

Based on interview and record review, the hospital failed to provide an appropriate transfer to 1 of 20 sampled patients (Patient #1).

Findings include:

Review on 3/1/23 of the hospital's Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation (SBAR) report, for an occurrence on 1/26/23, revealed an ambulance arrived at the hospital with a patient exhibiting chest pain. The patient remained on the ambulance and did not receive a medical screening examination. The ED physician did not see the patient, reviewed an EKG strip that had been performed on the ambulance, and directed the ambulance to take the patient to another facility.

Interview on 3/1/23 at approximately 9:40 a.m. with Staff A (ED Director) confirmed the above finding. Interview revealed that they did not provide a medical screening examination to determine if the patient required medical treatment prior to transfer. Interview further revealed the ED had not been in contact with the receiving hospital prior to transfer to verify their capacity and acceptance of the patient.