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CHRISTUS OCHSNER ST PATRICK HOSPITAL
EMERGENCY ROOM LOG
Tag No.: A2405
Based on record review and interview the hospital failed to maintain a central log on which each individual who comes to the hospital seeking assistance and whether he or she refused treatment, was refused treatment, or whether he or she was transferred, admitted and treated, stabilized and transferred, or discharged as evidenced by 1 (#1) patient who presented to the ED and was not entered into the central log, of 19 patients sampled.
Findings:
Review of Hospital Policy # CC-A-080 titled, "EMTALA Guidelines", provided by S2CNO as current, revealed in part that the Dedicated Emergency Department (DED) Procedure included, "...All patients presenting to the DED will be entered into the Emergency Department (ED) log."
Review of self-report of potential Hospital Abuse/Neglect Initial Reports submitted to Louisiana Department of Health, Health Standards Section, final report submitted 02/04/2020, revealed the hospital was contacted 01/27/2020 by the spouse of Patient #1 and advised Patient #1 had presented to the hospital ED the afternoon of 01/26/2020, with complaints of chest pain. The report further stated after being told to take a seat and fill out paperwork, Patient #1 left the ED.
Review of the ED Log, provided by S1CNO revealed no entry related to Patient #1 presenting to the ED.
In an interview 02/17/2020 at 1:45 p.m. S1CNO reported Patient #1 was not entered into the ED log. She confirmed that all patients presenting are supposed to be entered into the log, even if they do not stay to be seen by ED staff.
In a phone interview 02/17/2020 at 2:15 p.m. S2RN reported she was the triage nurse working 01/26/2020, when Patient #1 presented to the ED with his spouse. S2RN reported she asked Patient #1 and his spouse to have a seat and write his name on the "check-in" slip of paper. S2RN reported that Patient #1 and his spouse wrote his name on the slip, then immediately left the ED without being triaged or seen.by a provider. S2RN confirmed she did not enter the patient's name into the ED log system.