HospitalInspections.org

Based on observations during a tour of the emergency department on March 2, 2011, the hospital failed to post conspicuously in the emergency department or in a place or places likely to be noticed by all individuals entering the emergency department, as well as those individuals waiting for examination, signs specifying the rights of individuals under section 1867 of the act with respect to examination and treatment in the emergency room. The findings include:

A tour of the ED was conducted with employees (A) and (B) at 9:25 a.m. on March 2, 2011. The hospital emergency room has two entrances, one of which is the ambulance entrance. Patients who do not arrive by ambulance, enter through the hospital doors and walk straight forward to the admitting desk. The only sign at the walk-in entrance was posted above the drinking fountain which was to the right of the entrance door. Unless patients are getting a drink of water or look back over their shoulder towards the entrance they would not see the sign. After answering five basic questions patients are escorted to a triage room. There were no signs referencing EMTALA rights in the triage room or the waiting room.

This was confirmed with employees (A) and (B) during the tour.