HospitalInspections.org

Based on log review, medical record review and interview the facility failed to ensure that all individuals that present to the emergency room are given a medical screening and receive stabilizing treatment if applicable for one patient in a survey sample of 21.

Finding include:

During a complaint survey alleging possible EMTALA violations on 2/13/15 it was identified that on 1/24/15 an individual presented to the dedicated emergency room of this facility having sustaining a fall on some ice. The person who stated she was in her 37th week of pregnancy was requesting to be seen. Staff A (Registration) informed the individual that the hospital no longer treats obstetrics patients and if this was the issue she would have to be transferred. The individual relayed that she just wanted to have the baby checked and Staff A relayed this message to Staff B (ED staff RN) who responded that " We can see her but we can ' t treat the baby " . At this time the girls companion asked for the phone number of the local ambulance service and both went to the other side of the waiting room, in a " couple of moments " they returned to the registration area asking to leave his truck in the hospital parking lot. Staff A told him that is fine and she will leave a message with hospital security. At this time the local ambulance arrived the young couple exited the waiting room and were put in the ambulance by the ambulance personnel. At this time as reported by Staff A, Staff B entered the waiting room and stated " they can ' t take you without being seen " and then had a brief conversation with the ambulance personnel which could not be heard by Staff A. During phone interview with Staff B on 2/18/15 Staff B stated that during this conversation the ambulance personnel said that they were treating this call " like a 911 call " and proceeded to transfer the couple to the receiving hospital. Review of the ambulance trip report outlines the timeline from call received from waiting room on 1/24/15 at 22:17 to time of patient contact 22:24 to departure from hospital curb 22:25.