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Based on observation and interview, the hospital failed to post legible signage about patient rights under EMTALA (Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act) in the emergency department (ED) waiting room, and had no signage posted for patients entering the ED by ambulance. This failure did not ensure patients or their representatives seeking ED care and services received appropriate notification of Federal rights associated with emergency care and services.

Finding:

During an observation and concurrent interview on 5/2/23 at 11:43 a.m., signage about patient rights under EMTALA was posted on the wall of the ED patient waiting room. The size of the font on the signs was too small to read from approximately six feet away. The signs were posted in an alcove that contained a red medical cart (crash cart, contains equipment and medications used during resuscitation) and multiple wheelchairs that prevented the reader from approaching the signs. Quality Manager moved the wheelchairs, but the signs remained difficult to read at a distance of two feet. Quality Manager verified the wheelchairs prevented access to the signage.

During an observation and concurrent interview on 5/2/23 at 12 p.m., the ambulance bay and the patient care areas of the ED did not have signage about patient rights under EMTALA. Nursing Director stated she did not know how patients who arrived by ambulance received information about EMTALA rights.

During an interview on 5/4/23 at 2:19 p.m., Nursing Director stated the EMTALA rights signage in the ED waiting room was not readable where it was and needed to be moved. Nursing Director stated the font size made the signs difficult to read with her reading glasses on, and stated most of the patients who came to the ED probably needed reading glasses.

A policy regarding signage about patient rights under EMTALA was requested, but Area Quality Specialist stated no such policy exists.