HospitalInspections.org

Based on review of policies and procedures, hospital documents and staff interviews, it was determined that the hospital failed to
provide a Medical Screening Examination to a patient who presented to the ED for examination and treatment. (Patient #1)

Findings include:

Patient #1 arrived via personnel vehicle to the Emergency Department patient drop-off on 03/03/2022 at approximately 0845 after sustaining an injury to the right wrist after falling. Upon arrival to the drop-off, Patient #1 was met by a hospital employee who informed Patient #1 that the hospital was conducting a drill and was not accepting patients at that time. Patient # then proceeded to the ED at Hospital #2 for treatment.

Hospital policy titled "EMTALA-Medical Screening and Examination and Stabilization Treatment" revealed: "...Banner Health provides care for individuals presenting to its hospitals (and Dedicated Emergency Departments, as defined below) with emergency medical conditions without discrimination and regardless of their payor status or eligibility for financial assistance...An appropriate MSE will be offered to individuals on the Campus of Banner Hospitals with a Dedicated Emergency Department who request emergency medical services,,,Where an individual comes to the Hospital;s Dedicated Emergency Department and requests services for a medical condition that is not of an emergency nature, the Hospital will perform such screening as would be appropriate to determine that the individual does not have an EMC. After such determination is made, the person may be directed elsewhere for services...."

Review of the Hospital ED log for March, 2022 failed to reveal Patient #1 listed on the log.

Employee #5 confirmed during an interview on 09/14/2022 that Patient #1 was turned away in the ED patient drop-off by a hospital screener because the facility was conducting a "Code Pink" drill. Employee #5 stated the screener was deployed from another Banner facility and EMTALA training was not a requirement for the job that the screener normally worked. Employee #5 stated that as the screener returned to the building, another employee informed the screener that the hospital does accept patients during a drill, however the patient's car had already left the parking lot.

Employee #4 confirmed during an interview on 09/14/2022 that Patient #1 should not have been turned away from the ED by the ED screener. Employee #4 stated the screener received education on EMTALA after the incident.