Go find your patient

EEEKS! no one addressed EMTALA that I can see. Your ER is responsible for everyone in the ER and for everyone WITHIN 250 FEET OF THE ER. Call security.

Greetings.... tell me what you think of this....the other day we had a few patients presenting to triage. I went to call the patient (who was 9), and no answer. the registration clerks said "He's outside running around". (the complaint was suicidal gesture). From where I was standing I saw no one outside, so I called the next patient. The ER doc working that day asked me "Where is this kid?" I told him that the clerks said he was outside but I saw no one. Well this ER doc tells me that it is our responsiblity to go find this kid. He says, "Once they're on our property, they are our responsibility". So, to all you seasoned ED nurses, who know that some days in triage can be a nightmare, you have to go round up your patients if they are not in your waiting room when they are called? That seems ridiculous!! what if they are on the other side of the hospital grounds which can be pretty far away? Thanks

Here is my question: Where are the parents!? Just because a parent takes the kid to the hospital does not relieve them of all responsiblity to keep the child in the proper areas so that the child can recieve the treatment they need.

Am I the only one wondering about the "responsible" adult that brought the child in to the hospital. I am a parent myself and I can tell you that if you child was suicidal enough that I felt they needed help their little butts would be sitting in the waiting room when their names were called. Why does suddenly become the healthcare provider's responsiblity to keep these people's children from misbehaving?

Perhaps thinkertdm and PhoenixTech can sit in ER waiting rooms across the country and force pts to stay until they are seen...