HospitalInspections.org

Based on review of facility documents, staff interview (EMP), and security surveillance it was determined the facility failed to provide a medical screening exam for a patient who arrived at the facility via ambulance for one of one observation made.

Findings include:

Review on January 20, 2023, of the facility policy, " EMTALA (Emergency Medical Treatment And Active Labor Act) - Administrative, " last reviewed January 2023 revealed " ... I. Policy: 1. Medical Screening Examination A. The Hospital must provide an appropriate medical screening examination within its capability to all persons who present themselves to a dedicated emergency department and who request, or have a request made on his or her behalf, for an examination or treatment of a medical condition. The Hospital must also provide a medical screening examination when persons on hospital property other than a dedicated emergency department request or appear to require emergency medical care. If an emergency medical condition is determined to exist, the Hospital must provide any necessary stabilizing treatment within the capabilities of the staff and facilities available at the Hospital or an appropriate transfer. ... Hospital Property (HP): Buildings on the hospital that participate in the same Medicare license. Buildings that are immediately adjacent to the main buildings and other areas and structures that are not strictly contiguous to the main buildings but are located within 250 yards of the main building including parking lots, sidewalks and driveway. Medical Screening Examination (MSE): A medical screening examination is the process required to reach, with reasonable clinical confidence, the point at which it can be determined whether or not an emergency medical condition exists or an individual is in labor. Such screening must be done within the facility ' s capability and available personnel, including on-call providers and be applied in a non-discriminatory manner (i.e., a different level of care must not exist based upon age, sex, race, ethnic origin, religion, sexual preference, medical condition, insurance, or ability to pay). Screening is to be conducted to the extent necessary, by providers and/or other qualified medical personnel, to determine whether an emergency medical condition exists. With respect to a person with psychiatric symptoms, an MSE consists of both a medical and psychiatric screening. The MSE is an ongoing process and the medical records must reflect continued monitoring based on the person ' s needs and must continue until the individual is either stabilized or appropriately transferred. ... Person Presenting to Emergency Department: Any individual who is not already a " patient " who requests an examination or treatment. A person who presents anywhere on the hospital campus and requests emergency services or who would appear to a prudent layperson observer to be in need of medical attention shall be evaluated by the DED for an emergency medical condition. This includes a person in an ambulance on hospital property. ... "

Review on January 20, 2023, of security camera footage revealed at approximately 2259, on January 14, 2023, an ambulance pulled into the ambulance bay and security officers remained present in the ambulance bay. The EMS crew was observed exiting the vehicle, speaking to the security officers and then getting back into the vehicle and driving away.

Interview on January 20, 2023, with EMP1, at approximately 1030 confirmed security footage revealed at approximately 2259 on January 14, 2023, an ambulance carrying a patient pulled into the ambulance bay, the EMS crew was observed exiting the vehicle, spoke to security officers in the ambulance bay, and then got back into the ambulance and drove away with the patient.