ER Patients Wait 6 Hours + for Transfer

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

Two patients who went to a hospital emergency room in mid-October were kept waiting for over six hours befor finally being transferred to a hospital equipped to care for them.
According to a report from the state Health Department the lengthy delays occurred at Penn Highlands Elk, a 213-bed facility in Saint Marys.
The state surveyors also found that when one of those patients filed a grievance about the delay, the hospital failed to act on it.
After reviewing hospital records the surveyors found that one of those patients checked into the emergency room at 5:58 p.m. on Oct. 14 and wasn't transferred until 1:08 p.m. the next day.
The other patient arrived at the hospital at 5:22 p.m. and wasn't transferred until 11:10 p.m.
The hospital "failed to ensure that transfer arrangements were made for patients requiring transfer to another facility," the report states.
The health department surveyors found that there was no docummentation that other facilities were even contacted.
The facility filed a plan of correction in which they said staffers would be educated on the proper procedure for arranging for patient transfers including documenting any contacts with hospitals to seek placement.
The hospital also promised to conduct audits to ensure that the proper procedures were being followed, including the handling of grievances.
Penn Highlands officials did not respond to requests for comment.
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