EMTALA
Errors In The Log Get NJ Hospital Cited For EMTALA
When EMTALA site reviewers started pulling cases from the log to review, they found 5 of 33 entries were wrong and cited the hospital for EMTALA violations of tag A2405. Patient #2 was listed as “Left Without Being Seen” (LWOBS) but the medical record showed the patient was discharged home. Patient #3 was also listed … Read more
Hospital Cited For Not Following Own On-Call Ultrasound Policy
Patient #1 presented by ambulance and was triaged as “level 4” with complaints of left leg pain and pain behind the knee for several days. The pain was described as a sharp pain radiating from lower left leg to the thigh area. The PA ordered a D-dimer test for possible blood clot. When the test … Read more
Hospital cited for Orthopedist on-call “uncomfortable” with hand injury
A hospital was cited for failure to provide stabilizing treatment when an on-call Orthopedist declined to come in and ordered a hand case transferred. The receiving hospital questioned that transfer as a “lateral” move that could have been handled by the general Orthopedist on-call rather than triggering a 130 mile transfer. CMS concluded the transfer … Read more
Would Web Search Violate EMTALA?
On a web board today a risk manager asked about what he understood to be common ED practice — looking up patients on the internet during their visit. He wanted to know if there were legal implications, especially if the person you find is not the person who is the patient. Let’s get right to … Read more
You may have some EMTALA signs, but you still may get cited for IMPROPER DISPLAY.
When it comes to ED EMTALA signs, many EDs discover they are usually a “Gotcha”. Do you think I am kidding, then check out actual language from an EMTALA citation: Location 1 (satellite ED): Observation of the ambulance entrance revealed no signage posted. Observation of trauma room revealed one sign. The sign was obstructed by … Read more
Critical Access hospital fined $20,000 for transfer of orthopedic patient.
An alleged failure to call in an on-call orthopedic surgeon and an apparent disagreement on what constitutes “Trauma” for transfer to a Trauma Center ultimately was resolved with $20,000 Office of Inspector General (OIG) settlement on charges against a Critical Access (fewer than 25 beds) hospital in Tennessee (December 2014). Maximum fines for violations by … Read more
Tennessee hospital fined $40,000 for patient dumping allegation.
A Tennessee hospital settled an Office of Inspector General (OIG) action for Civil Monetary Penalty (fine) for $40,000 in January 2015 on allegations stemming from a 2011 citation against the hospital for an alleged “patient dumping” violation. In reaching the settlement, the hospital did not admit any wrong-doing. The incident reportedly stems from an incident … Read more
Kansas hospital fined $45,000 for referring OB patient to her private doctor.
A $45,000 settlement has been reached on an Office of Inspector General (OIG) Civil Monetary Penalty (fine) against a Kansas Hospital for an alleged failure to provide an adequate medical screening exam. The OIG charged that the hospital failed to provide an adequate medical exam when a woman presented to the hospital’s emergency department 38 … Read more
Are you asking for an EMTALA citation at registration?
CMS allows you to ask for two ID elements, such as name and address or name and D.O.B. but it does not allow you to require two forms of ID — or any ID –or to go through paperwork — or for the clerk to debate chief complaint. “Well isn’t important that we get the … Read more