Georgia Hospital Settles Case Involving Patient Dumping Allegation

On November 22, 2019, Rockdale Medical Center (RMC), Conyers, Georgia, entered into a $70,000 settlement agreement with OIG. The settlement agreement resolves allegations that, based on OIG's investigation, RMC violated the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) when it failed to provide a medical screening examination, stabilizing treatment or proper transfer to a 79-year-old female. Specifically, the patient presented to RMC's Emergency Department (ED) by ambulance after being involved in a motor vehicle crash with multiple injured individuals. EMS contacted RMC's ED for guidance about disposition of the injured individuals and the ED physician at RMC directed that the patient be taken to a trauma center. When one of the ambulances arrived in RMC's ambulance bay with the patient, a hospital nurse approached the ambulance and told the driver that the patient was supposed to go to the trauma center. The ambulance then transported the patient to the trauma center without the patient receiving a medical screening examination. During the transport, the patient's condition deteriorated, and she ultimately died at the receiving hospital. Senior Counsel Geeta Taylor represented OIG.

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