Department of Health & Human Services

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Form Approved

OMB No. 0938-0391
Statement of Deficiencies (X1) Provider/Supplier/CLIA Identification Number 010001 (X3) Date Survey Completed 10/02/2019
Name of Provider or Supplier Southeast Health Medical Center Street Address, City, State 1108 Ross Clark Circle, Dothan, AL
For information on the provider's plan to correct this deficiency, please contact the provider or the state survey agency.
(X4) ID Prefix Tag Summary Statement of Deficiencies

(Each deficiency should be preceded by full regulatory or LSC identifying information)
A0000 An unannounced federal Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA) complaint survey, AL36479, was conducted at Southeast Alabama Medical Center on October 2, 2019, specifically for the review of EMTALA requirements. The Regulatory Director and Interim Quality Director were notified on December 17, 2019 at 1:25 p.m. that Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) existed. Based on review of the facility's Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) related policy, Medical Staff Bylaws and Rules and Regulations, Hospital # 2 Emergency Department (ED) medical record (MR), and interviews with staff it was determined Southeast Alabama Medical Center (Hospital # 1) failed to provide a Medical Screening Examination (MSE) for a patient that presented to the wound care clinic, located on the hospital campus, for care. The wound clinic staff notified 911 of the need to transport the patient to the Emergency Department (ED) for evaluation and treatment. The patient was not taken to the on-campus ED, but was transported to Hospital #2's ED for treatment. Southeast Alabama Medical Center failed to provide a MSE, provide stabilizing treatment and arrange for an appropriate transfer to Hospital #2. The hospital's failure to provide stabilizing treatment as required posed an immediate and serious threat to Patient #21's health and safety and inappropriately delayed treatment for his emergency medical condition. The patient's condition was not stable at the time of transfer, as this resulted in an inappropriate transfer. The hospital was found to be not in compliance with the Federal Regulations at 42 CFR 489.20 and CFR 489.24, Responsibilities of Medicare Participating Hospitals in Emergency Cases. The following is a description of the non-compliance.