When the patient presented for vague symptoms, the ED ordered a blood test to rule out cardiac issues, but according to published reports on the trial, the patient was sent home. The news story indicated that the results came back the next morning, and the ED nurse called the patient and her notes indicated that … Read more
The “Secret Patient” arrived at your hospital in a proper EMTALA transfer from Hospital A. They sent all required information but the patient’s name or ANYOTHER identifying information — he and supposed family member REFUSED to disclose it. Your hospital hospital provides appropriate screening, admits the patient, provides surgery, and provides appropriate after care to … Read more
The new 135 bed private facility on Guam opened in July and was awaiting it JC accreditation in December when it drew its first EMTALA complaint for allegedly transferring an OB patient for financial reasons. According to reports on Kuam.com, a young woman was brought into the hospital by ambulance complaining of labor pains at … Read more
If you were that hospital – whether justified or not – how much damage would this headline do to your reputation? And then, what if it gets dragged up several more times with headlines about CMS EMTALA citations and possible termination from Medicare? And then, periodic headlines as the law suits drag through the courts … Read more
EMTALA is 30 years old this year, and with the social status for docs being the brightest and best, you would think that all of our ED docs would have figured out its requirements by now, right? But NO… a segment of Emergency Department physicians (primarily in smaller hospitals or busy community hospitals) still finds … Read more
A number of our subscribers to this site support our troops. This weekend, I viewed the move “13 Hours”. If you support our troops, just see the movie. I won’t editorialize, and it certainly does not, but everyone who claims to support our troops needs to see this movie.
Many hospitals use cell phones internally and externally for daily operations. Many of their emergency plans assume that they will be available even if local phone service is interrupted, but a little-known case before the US Supreme Court involves secret government plans to shut off cell phone service during emergencies. According to the brief filed … Read more
The Arkansas state claims commission has recommended the state pay a disabled patient $2 million for a surgery allegedly conducted on the wrong side of a 15 year old boy’s brain. The University of Arkansas hospital and doctors were determined by the commission to be responsible for the injuries and “fraudulently concealed” the fact of … Read more
I don’t know if this report is accurate, but the left-wing tool of George Soros SNOPES.COM lists it as “unverified” after more than a month in circulation. My personal conclusion is that if they have not labeled it as a “hoax” in this period of time, it is likely to be true, and that is … Read more
Microsoft researchers will release a report at a security conference next month that details vulnerabilities in EMRs at more than 200 top US Hospitals, according to industry publication NETWORKWORLD. The advance info on the study indicates that 4 different types of attacks in the study were able to evade the encryption found in many of … Read more