HospitalInspections.org

Based on a review of facility documents, medical records (MR), and staff interviews (EMP), it was determined the facility to ensure an appropriate patient transfer in one of 11 transfer records reviewed. (MR1)

Findings include:

Review of the facility's policy entitled "Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act" revised November 2009, revealed, "... Appropriate Transfers: The transferring hospital - Transfers from the Emergency Department or hospital unit must be initiated through physician to physician communication. For all transfers, a physician must accept the patient at the receiving facility prior to the transfer ... ."

Review of the facility's policy entitled "Transfer of Patient to Another Facility", revised November 2013, revealed, "Purpose: To provide a means for safe, efficient air or ground transfer to another hospital. Policy: 1. No patient will be arbitrarily transferred to another hospital and no transfer will be make [sic] without positive acceptance by the hospital or physician who will be caring for the patient ... 3. All EMTALA laws will be followed for ALL transfers ... Procedure: 1. The transferring physician will make the necessary arrangements with a receiving physician ... ."

1) Review of MR1 revealed the patient was transferred from Penn Highlands Elk to another acute care hospital.

2) Interview with EMP1 on September 3, 2014, revealed that the Emergency Department physician did not contact a physician at the receiving hospital to accept the patient associated with MR1.

3) A telephone interview with EMP9, conducted on September 4, 2014, at 8:45 AM, revealed "... I didn't call [the receiving hospital] because I thought arrangements were already made ... ."