HospitalInspections.org

Based on a review of facility documents, policies and procedures, medical records (MR), and staff interviews (EMP), it was determined that the facility failed to report to CMS or the State survey agency that a patient transfer possibly violated the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act.

Findings include:

Review of facility policy "Emergency Medical Screening, Treatment & Transfer Policy (EMTALA)" stated, " ... Any individual who believes that EMTALA has been violated in this organization or by any other organization must immediately report his or her concern to the Vice President of Support Services and Risk Management who will be responsible for filing reports with the appropriate regulatory authorities within the 72 hour deadline."

1. Interview with EMP2 on July 16, 2014, at approximately 2:20 PM revealed that the facility had knowledge of a possible EMTALA violation on July 10, 2014. EMP2 stated, "A couple of people from the ER (Emergency Room) came to see me about this. The manager got a call from staff at [the transferring hospital] and told us about it [the transfer], and they were going to self-report it. Something about they were unable to care for patient and was sent to us."

2. Review of facility documents and MR1 revealed that the patient had requested to be taken to the transferring hospital; however, was diverted to the receiving hospital without an appropriate medical screening. Further review of facility documents and MR1 revealed that the receiving hospital was aware of the possible EMTALA violation but failed to report it to the appropriate regulatory authorities.

3. Interview with EMP21, on July 21, 2013, at approximately 12:15 PM confirmed that the facility failed to report the possible EMTALA violation to the appropriate regulatory authorities. EMP21 stated, " Our night staff knew right away it was an EMTALA. Even the patient stated she wanted to go to [the transferring hospital]. They wrote an incident report up. We called administration and told them."
4. Interview with EMP19 on July 21, 2014, at approximately 12:30 PM confirmed the above and revealed, "When we came to work that morning an incident report was filled out and I had a message from [staff] and told me [staff] was going to report it. Then it [the incident report] went up to administration. "
5. Interview with EMP22 on July 21, 2014, at approximately 12:40 PM confirmed the above findings and revealed, "I came in that morning and staff was talking about something happened at [the transferring hospital]. I went to my office and the phone was ringing. It was [staff] who told me about it [the transfer] and said I think we have an EMTALA. There was an incident report filled out. I gave the incident report to [EMP2] and talked to [EMP2] about it."
6. Interview with EMP23 on July 21, 2014, at approximately 9:30 AM confirmed the above findings and revealed, "You already know we didn't report it [the possible EMTALA]. We assumed [the transferring hospital] did, they said they were going to self-report."

Based on a review of facility documents, policies and procedures, medical records (MR), and staff interviews (EMP), it was determined that the facility failed to report to CMS or the State survey agency that a patient transfer possibly violated the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act.

Findings include:

Review of facility policy "Emergency Medical Screening, Treatment & Transfer Policy (EMTALA)" stated, " ... Any individual who believes that EMTALA has been violated in this organization or by any other organization must immediately report his or her concern to the Vice President of Support Services and Risk Management who will be responsible for filing reports with the appropriate regulatory authorities within the 72 hour deadline."

1. Interview with EMP2 on July 16, 2014, at approximately 2:20 PM revealed that the facility had knowledge of a possible EMTALA violation on July 10, 2014. EMP2 stated, "A couple of people from the ER (Emergency Room) came to see me about this. The manager got a call from staff at [the transferring hospital] and told us about it [the transfer], and they were going to self-report it. Something about they were unable to care for patient and was sent to us."

2. Review of facility documents and MR1 revealed that the patient had requested to be taken to the transferring hospital; however, was diverted to the receiving hospital without an appropriate medical screening. Further review of facility documents and MR1 revealed that the receiving hospital was aware of the possible EMTALA violation but failed to report it to the appropriate regulatory authorities.

3. Interview with EMP21, on July 21, 2013, at approximately 12:15 PM confirmed that the facility failed to report the possible EMTALA violation to the appropriate regulatory authorities. EMP21 stated, " Our night staff knew right away it was an EMTALA. Even the patient stated she wanted to go to [the transferring hospital]. They wrote an incident report up. We called administration and told them."
4. Interview with EMP19 on July 21, 2014, at approximately 12:30 PM confirmed the above and revealed, "When we came to work that morning an incident report was filled out and I had a message from [staff] and told me [staff] was going to report it. Then it [the incident report] went up to administration. "
5. Interview with EMP22 on July 21, 2014, at approximately 12:40 PM confirmed the above findings and revealed, "I came in that morning and staff was talking about something happened at [the transferring hospital]. I went to my office and the phone was ringing. It was [staff] who told me about it [the transfer] and said I think we have an EMTALA. There was an incident report filled out. I gave the incident report to [EMP2] and talked to [EMP2] about it."
6. Interview with EMP23 on July 21, 2014, at approximately 9:30 AM confirmed the above findings and revealed, "You already know we didn't report it [the possible EMTALA]. We assumed [the transferring hospital] did, they said they were going to self-report."