HospitalInspections.org

Based on observations and interview, 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 Social Security Act with respect to examination and treatment in the emergency department. Findings include:A tour of the hospital emergency department (ED) was conducted with Employee C/ED Operations Administrator, Employee D/Nursing Administrator for the ED, and Employee E/ED Nurse Manager on 7/7/15 at 11:50 a.m. The hospital ED had two entrances. These included the ambulance entrance from the garage and the main ED entrance which led past the security desk, past the registration desk, and into the wait room seating area. There were signs specifying the rights of individuals under section 1867 of the Social Security Act with respect to examination and treatment for emergency medical conditions and women in labor (EMTALA) at the ambulance entrance from the garage and inside the door to the main entrance of the ED. There were no signs specifying the rights of individuals under section 1867 of the Social Security Act with respect to examination and treatment for emergency medical conditions and women in labor (EMTALA) visible for those individuals seated in the waiting area waiting to be called into the ED. There were no EMTALA signs at the entrance to the intake rooms where individuals may be triaged and no EMTALA signs inside the ED.The lack of visible signage from the wait seating area was verified with Employee C, Employee D, and Employee E at 10:55 a.m. on 7/7/15. Review of the plan of correction, signed 6/4/2015, and Federal Regulations regarding ED posting of EMTALA signage was conducted again with Employee C at 4:00 p.m. Employee C stated the plan of correction that was sent to the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid that noted "signs were placed in the main Emergency Department waiting area, fully visible to the patients and families..." was incorrect.