Parkwest Medical Center Agreed to Pay $80,000 for Allegedly Violating Patient Dumping Statute by Failing to Provide an Appropriate Medical Screening Examination

On May 27, 2025, Parkwest Medical Center (Parkwest), Knoxville, Tennessee, entered into a $80,000 settlement agreement with OIG. The settlement agreement resolves allegations that Parkwest violated the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). Based on its investigation, OIG concluded that in February 2022, Parkwest failed to provide an adequate medical screening examination to a patient who presented to Parkwest. The patient presented to Parkwest’s Emergency Department (ED) with a suspected ectopic pregnancy, reporting 10 out of 10 pain (severe pain), left lower quadrant pain, extreme cramping, bleeding and a positive pregnancy test as determined by her OB/GYN earlier that day. Diagnostic testing included a beta HCG of 4049 (indicating either an intrauterine pregnancy or an ectopic pregnancy), and an ultrasound. The radiologist interpreted the ultrasound as showing a left simple cyst and no uterine pregnancy, concluding there was no definitive signs of an ectopic pregnancy. The ED physician discussed the findings with the on-call OB/GYN who agreed to have the patient discharged. The on-call OB/GYN did not evaluate the patient in the ED.

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