EMTALA – Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act If a patient arrives on hospital property seeking medical care, we are obligated to provide a screening exam. A patient should never be directed to another hospital or offsite location without first being evaluated by a physician. Cone Health and its affiliates cannot turn a patient away for any reason and should take the patient to the emergency department. Do not delay examination or treatment in order to inquire about the patients’ insurance or payment status. ABUSE and NEGLECT Cone Health is committed to appropriately recognizing, treating and reporting suspected incidents of abuse, neglect, exploitation, sexual assault, intimate partner violence and human trafficking in a manner that also protects the patient’s rights. Abuse is defined as intentionally causing pain, injury, or mental anguish. Neglect is the failure to provide adequate materials, shelter, or food necessary for the health of a person. Exploitation refers to the illegal or improper use of a child or disabled adult, or his or her resources for someone else’s profit or advantage. RISK Management Any incidents that may have adverse consequences for patients, visitors and affiliates providing care, treatment and services should be reported immediately to the instructor, charge nurse or director of the area you are working in and followed-up with a completed report in Safety Zone Portal. The Safety Zone Portal is an automated, reporting system for unexpected non- sentinel incidents and medication events. All reports entered into the Safety Zone Portal automatically go to the Risk Management Department. Cone Health, The Joint Commission and the Division of Health Service Regulation (DHSR) are committed to patient safety and quality care. If you have a concern regarding safety or quality, notify the immediate supervisor or a higher-level leader in the area in which you are working. If concerns continue, you have the right to directly contact: The Joint Commission Office of Quality Monitoring The Joint Commission One Renaissance Boulevard Oak Branch Terrace, IL 60181 Phone: 630-792-5800 or 800-994-6610 www.jointcommission.org/report_a_complaint.asp Email: patientsafetyreport@jointcommission.org North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation Acute and Home Care Branch 2711 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 29699-2706 Phone: 800-624-3004 . www2.ncdhhs.gov/dhsr/ciu/filecomplaint.html SAFETY/QUALITY Concerns AFFILIATE ORIENTATION MANUAL 10