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MARY IMOGENE BASSETT HOSPITAL
RECEIVING AN INAPPROPRIATE TRANSFER
Tag No.: A2401
Based on interview and record review, during a complaint investigation (NY00173978), the hospital failed to notify CMS or the State Agency of a possible inappropriate transfer.
Findings:
On 11/21/15 at 9:57pm Patient #11 was brought to the Emergency Depertment (ED) by ambulance, complaining of left sided hip pain. The patient had had recent hip surgery at another facility. The patient had initially been brought to the ED of another facility but was turned away without a medical screening exam. The ambulance subsequently brought the patient to this facility.
Review of the recipient hospital responsibilities, EMTALA Policy C 15-6, "Duty to Accept" indicates that the facility has a duty to report a suspected violation within 72 hrs. to CMS or the State Agency any time it has reason to suspect it received an individual in an unstable medical condition from another facility in violation of the EMTALA requirements.
The Vice President for Performance Improvement was interviewed on 12/10/15 at 3:00pm and confirmed that the facility had not called CMS or the State Agency to report receiving a patient on 11/21/15 who may have been an inappropriate transfer.