HospitalInspections.org

Based on the revisit survey 12/3/19 - 12/4/19, it was determined the hospital had not fully implemented its plan of correction and ensure all patients received an appropriate medical screening examination (MSE) and stabilization and/or treatment within the hospital's capabilities prior to transferring patients.

Based on Medical Staff Rules and Regulations review, Air EMS /Jackson County General hospital Air Ambulances Services Agreement, and Aeromedical/Flight EMS report the hospital's healthcare system failed to ensure the hospital's healthcare system Emergency Medical Services provided appropriate care and services to ensure all patients were appropriately transferred to another medical facility by failing to ensure a physician had signed a written certification of transfer based upon the information available at the time of transfer, for 3 of 3 (Patient #1, #2, and #3) sampled patients who received a medical emergency response from the hospital's healthcare system EMS and were transported to a heli-pad on the hospital healthcare system property and air-lifted to another hospital without obtaining a physician written certification of transfer.

The findings included:

1. The facility's Medical Staff Rules and Regulations, approved 4/24/2018 was reviewed. The Medical Staff Rules and Regulations stated in part, " ...C. Medical Screening Examination and Transfer Requirements ..... Transfer of Unstabilized patients ...In transferring an unstable patient the following requirement s apply ...the written consent to transfer should be obtained from the patient by the transferring Physician."

2. The hospital's Air EMS/Jackson County General Hospital Air Ambulance Services Agreement, executed 11/20/2012 was reviewed. The agreement stated in part on Page 3, "Both parties herto agree that any patient transfers should be in compliance with EMTALA."

3. Review of the Aeromedical Flight EMS report revealed that Patient #1 was transferred to their care at 9:00 AM, and flown emergently to Hospital #2 Burn Center. There was no physician written certification of transfer completed for Patient #1 on 7/20/2019.

4. Review of the Aeromedical/Flight EMS report revealed that Patient #2 was transferred to their care at 7:17 PM and flown emergently to Hospital #2's Trauma Center. There was no physician written certification of transfer completed for Patient #2 on 7/23/19.

5. Review of the Aeromedical/Flight EMS report revealed that Patient #3 was transferred to their care at 10:21 PM and flown to Hospital #2's Trauma Center in "Critical Condition." There was no physician written certification of transfer completed for Patient #3 on 8/1/2019.

The facility failed to ensure that that their Medical Staff Rules and Regulations and Air Ambulance Agreement were followed as evidenced by failing to ensure that a physician written certification of transfer was obtained for Patient #1, Patient #2, and Patient #3 prior to transfer to another facility.