A patient without health insurance comes to the emergency department limping and dripping blood from a head wound. Which intervention should be performed first with this patient?

Question

1. Tell the patient that there are no orthopedic doctors available and that the hospital in the next town will be better able to help him.
2. Determine the patient's triage level, examine, and treat as needed.
3. Have the patient sign in and provide method of payment for services.
4. Tell the patient that he will have to go to the emergency room at a hospital that treats people who do not have health insurance.

Answer 1

2
Rationale 1: The patient should not be told that because the hospital does not have the resources to provide the care he needs, he will have to go to a hospital in another town.
Rationale 2: According to the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, no patient can be turned away from care for financial reasons. Although the patient does not have health insurance, he should be triaged, examined, and treated.
Rationale 3: The patient is in obvious distress, and the hospital cannot delay appropriate medical screening or treatment to inquire about the patient's ability to pay for services.
Rationale 4: The patient should not be told to go to another hospital.