HospitalInspections.org

Based on observation and staff interview, the Critical Access Hospital's (CAH) Administrative staff failed to post a notice in a place likely to be noticed by all individuals entering the dedicated Emergency Department (ED) that the CAH does not have a physician present in the hospital 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and indicate how the CAH staff will meet the medical needs of any patient with an emergency medical condition (EMC). Failure to post a notice in a noticeable place in the Emergency Department that the CAH lacks 24/7 physician coverage interferes with a patient's ability to make an informed decision if the patient wants to receive care at the CAH ED. The Administrative Staff identified 4,996 patients presented to the emergency department in 2022 who sought emergency medical treatment.

Findings Include:

1. Observations on 10/31/22 at 11:10 AM, during a tour of the Emergency Department, revealed the CAH lacked a posted notice that the CAH did not have a physician present in the hospital 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

2. During an interview on 10/31/22 at the time of the tour, the Chief Nursing Officer verified the CAH did not have a physician present in the hospital 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and that the CAH staff failed to display a notice in a clearly visible area to ED patients that the CAH did not have a physician present in the hospital 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

3. During an interview on 10/31/22 at 12:00 PM, the Emergency Department Director acknowledged the facility did not have a physician present in the hospital 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and that the CAH staff failed to display a notice in a clearly visible are to ED patients that the CAH did not have a physician present in the hospital 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.