HospitalInspections.org

Based on review of hospital's Emergency Department (ED) Log and interview, the hospital failed to maintain and ensure the central log was accurately completed for the disposition of three (3) of twenty (20) patient charts reviewed for patient disposition. (Patient #23, #25, and #26). Additionally, the facility failed to have a Policy that addressed the EMTALA Central Log.

The findings are:

Patient #23
On 07/27/21 at 10:00 AM, review of Patient #23's medical record revealed the patient arrived to the hospital with a diagnosis of overdose on 04/19/20 at 5:49 AM. Review of the hospital's ED log revealed the patient's disposition was documented as "Left against Medical Advice", but the patient was admitted to the hospital.

Patient #25
On 07/27/21 at 11:00 AM, review of Patient #25's medical record revealed the patient arrived to the hospital with a diagnosis of overdose on 04/28/20 at 12:54 PM. Review of the hospital's ED log revealed the patient's disposition was documented as "Discharged to Home or Self Care", but the patient was admitted to the hospital.

Patient #26
On 7/27/21 at 11:45 AM, review of Patient #26's medical record revealed the patient arrived to the hospital with a diagnosis of overdose on 03/14/20 at 20:10 PM. Review of the hospital's ED log revealed the patient's disposition was "Discharged to Home or Self Care", but the patient was admitted to the hospital.

On 07/27/2021 at 1:00 PM, the findings were verified by the Director of Nursing (DON) who stated, "Maybe this is what shows up as the last deposition, and not the disposition from the ED."

The hospital had no specific EMTALA(Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act) policy addressing accuracy of the hospital's ED log addressing the disposition of patients.