ER Inspector ESSENTIA HEALTH ST MARY'S HOSPITAL - SUPERIORESSENTIA HEALTH ST MARY'S HOSPITAL - SUPERIOR

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Updated September 19, 2019

This database was last updated in September 2019. It should only be used as a historical snapshot.Researchers can find more recent data on timely and effective care in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ hospitals datasets and guidance about hospital regulations.

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ER Inspector » Wisconsin » ESSENTIA HEALTH ST MARY'S HOSPITAL - SUPERIOR

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ESSENTIA HEALTH ST MARY'S HOSPITAL - SUPERIOR

3500 tower ave, superior, Wis. 54880

(715) 817-7000

73% of Patients Would "Definitely Recommend" this Hospital
(Wis. Avg: 76%)

3 violations related to ER care since 2015

Hospital Type

Critical Access Hospitals

Hospital Owner

Voluntary non-profit - Private

ER Volume

Low (0 - 20K patients a year)

See this hospital's CMS profile page or inspection reports.

Patient Pathways Through This ER

After a patient arrives at the emergency room, they are typically seen by a doctor or medical practitioner and then either sent home or admitted to the hospital and taken to a room. A small percentage of patients leave without being seen. The chart below shows on average how long each of these pathways take. Lower numbers are better, and all times refer to the average length of time people waited.

Arrives at ER
0% of patients leave without being seen
3hrs 32min Admitted to hospital
4hrs 33min Taken to room
1hr 51min Sent home

All wait times are average.

Detailed Quality Measures

Here is a more in depth look at each quality measure, compared to state and national averages for hospitals with low ER volumes. Experts caution that very small differences between hospitals for a given measure are unlikely to correspond to noticeable differences in the real world.

Measure
Average for this Hospital
How this Hospital Compares

(to other hospitals with similar
ER volumes, when available)

Discharged Patients
Time Until Sent Home

Average time patients spent in the emergency room before being sent home (if not admitted).

1hr 51min
National Avg.
1hr 53min
Wis. Avg.
1hr 58min
This Hospital
1hr 51min
Impatient Patients
Left Without
Being Seen

Percentage of patients who left the emergency room without being seen by a doctor or medical practitioner.

0%
Avg. U.S. Hospital
2%
Avg. Wis. Hospital
1%
This Hospital
0%
Admitted Patients
Time Before Admission

Average time patients spent in the emergency room before being admitted to the hospital.

3hrs 32min

Data submitted were based on a sample of cases/patients.

National Avg.
3hrs 30min
Wis. Avg.
3hrs 16min
This Hospital
3hrs 32min
Admitted Patients
Transfer Time

Among patients admitted, additional time they spent waiting before being taken to their room (sometimes referred to as "boarding time.")

1hr 1min

Data submitted were based on a sample of cases/patients.

National Avg.
57min
Wis. Avg.
54min
This Hospital
1hr 1min
Special Patients
CT Scan

Percentage of patients who arrived with stroke symptoms and did not receive brain scan results within 45 mins.

No Data Available

The number of cases/patients is too few to report.

National Avg.
27%
Wis. Avg.
25%
This Hospital
No Data Available

Violations Related to ER Care

Problems found in emergency rooms at this hospital since 2015, as identified during the investigation of a complaint. About This Data →

Violation
Full Text
COMPLIANCE WITH 489.24

Feb 24, 2016

Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure transfer form are completed including risk of transfer specific to patient diagnosis, time for accepting physician contact and/or date and time with the doctor signs the document, in 8 of 20 medical records (2, 5, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16 and 17); the transfer of a patient is an appropriate transfer in 2 of 20 medical records (5), and that EMTALA signs are posted in 1 of 1 waiting areas, 1 of 1 entrance and 6 of 11 treatment rooms. Findings include: The facility failed to ensure there is a policy addressing completion of the EMTALA transfer form, and that it is legible and complete including risks related to the patient's diagnosis, benefit of transfer and time accepting physician is notified, in 8 of 10 transfer records reviewed (2, 5, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16 and 17) out of a total of 20 medical records reviewedSee Tag C2409. The facility failed to ensure EMTALA signs are posted in all treatment rooms and waiting areas, in 6 of 11 Emergency Department treatment rooms, 1 of 1 waiting room and 1 of 1 emergency entrance observed.

See More ↓

Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure transfer form are completed including risk of transfer specific to patient diagnosis, time for accepting physician contact and/or date and time with the doctor signs the document, in 8 of 20 medical records (2, 5, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16 and 17); the transfer of a patient is an appropriate transfer in 2 of 20 medical records (5), and that EMTALA signs are posted in 1 of 1 waiting areas, 1 of 1 entrance and 6 of 11 treatment rooms. Findings include: The facility failed to ensure there is a policy addressing completion of the EMTALA transfer form, and that it is legible and complete including risks related to the patient's diagnosis, benefit of transfer and time accepting physician is notified, in 8 of 10 transfer records reviewed (2, 5, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16 and 17) out of a total of 20 medical records reviewedSee Tag C2409. The facility failed to ensure EMTALA signs are posted in all treatment rooms and waiting areas, in 6 of 11 Emergency Department treatment rooms, 1 of 1 waiting room and 1 of 1 emergency entrance observed. See Tag C2404. The cumulative affect of these deficiencies potentially affect all 119 Emergency Department Patients seen in the Emergency Department during this survey.

See Less ↑
POSTING OF SIGNS

Feb 24, 2016

treatment rooms and waiting areas, in 6 of 11 Emergency Department treatment rooms, 1 of 1 waiting room and 1 of 1 emergency entrance observed .

See More ↓

treatment rooms and waiting areas, in 6 of 11 Emergency Department treatment rooms, 1 of 1 waiting room and 1 of 1 emergency entrance observed . Findings include: Per tour of the Emergency Department on 2/24/16 at 3:15 PM, it was observed there are no EMTALA signs posted in the Emergency Department entrance, waiting room and in the following treatment rooms: 3, 4, 6, 33, 34 and 35. Per interview during the tour on 2/24/16 at 3:15 PM with Manager A, Manager A was not aware the signs were not posted in the observed areas.

See Less ↑
APPROPRIATE TRANSFER

Feb 24, 2016

Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure there is a policy addressing completion of the EMTALA transfer form, and that it is legible and complete including risks related to the patient's diagnosis, benefit of transfer, level of care during transport and times of consent and notifying accepting physician, in 8 of 10 transfer records reviewed (2, 5, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16 and 17) out of a total of 20 medical records reviewed. Findings include: Per interview on 2/24/16 at 3:15 PM with Manager A a policy on transferring patients could not be located. Patient #2's medical record review revealed Patient #2 arrived in the Emergency Department on 11/2/15 with a complaint of abdominal pain.

See More ↓

Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure there is a policy addressing completion of the EMTALA transfer form, and that it is legible and complete including risks related to the patient's diagnosis, benefit of transfer, level of care during transport and times of consent and notifying accepting physician, in 8 of 10 transfer records reviewed (2, 5, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16 and 17) out of a total of 20 medical records reviewed. Findings include: Per interview on 2/24/16 at 3:15 PM with Manager A a policy on transferring patients could not be located. Patient #2's medical record review revealed Patient #2 arrived in the Emergency Department on 11/2/15 with a complaint of abdominal pain. Patient #2 was transferred to another facility due to a bowel obstruction. The Transfer Assessment and Certification Hospital to Hospital has illegible Benefits/Reason for Transfer and illegible Risks. The time listed for doctor to doctor contact is illegible. This is confirmed in interview with Emergency Department Manager A on 2/24/16 during record reviews between 10:35 AM and 3:00 PM, adding staff are expected to write clearly on paper documents. Patient #5's medical record review revealed Patient #5 arrived in the Emergency Department on 10/18/15 with a complaint of a sexual assault. Patient #5 was transferred to another facility due for a sexual assault examination. The Transfer Assessment and Certification Hospital to Hospital has under Benefits/Reason for Transfer "needs sexual assault exam" and states under Risks "MVC (motor vehicle crash), and is not related to the patient diagnosis. There is no time listed for doctor to doctor contact. This is confirmed in interview with Emergency Department Manager A on 2/24/16 during record reviews between 10:35 AM and 3:00 PM, adding this is not an appropriate transfer. Manager A stated medical staff do sexual assault examinations at this facility and there is not need for a transfer. Patient #9's medical record review revealed Patient #9 arrived in the Emergency Department on 8/3/15 after a fall. Patient #9 was transferred to another facility due to a need for orthopedic surgery. The Transfer Assessment and Certification Hospital to Hospital has under Risks "traffic accident", and is not related to the patient diagnosis. This is confirmed in interview with Emergency Department Manager A on 2/24/16 during record reviews between 10:35 AM and 3:00 PM, agreeing the risks should be related to the patient diagnosis. Patient #11's medical record review revealed Patient #11 arrived in the Emergency Department on 9/5/15 with a complaint of shortness of breath. Patient #11 was transferred to another facility due to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with exacerbation. The Transfer Assessment and Certification Hospital to Hospital has no information under Risks, and there is no date and time the doctor signed the document. This is confirmed in interview with Emergency Department Manager A on 2/24/16 during record reviews between 10:35 AM and 3:00 PM, adding medical staff are to list risks of transfer and have a date and time with their signature. Patient #12's medical record review revealed Patient #12 arrived in the Emergency Department on 11/2/15 with a complaint of Anorxia. Patient #12 was transferred to another facility due to high potassium levels and renal failure. The Transfer Assessment and Certification Hospital to Hospital has no risks listed. This is confirmed in interview with Emergency Department Manager A on 2/24/16 during record reviews between 10:35 AM and 3:00 PM, adding the medical staff are to list risks of transfer. Patient #15's medical record review revealed Patient #15 arrived in the Emergency Department on 11/5/15 with a complaint of a finger laceration. Patient #15 was transferred to another facility due to need of open finger fracture repair. The patient was transferred by private car. The Transfer Assessment and Certification Hospital to Hospital states under Risks "decompensation" and does not include risks specific to the patient's diagnosis or lack of medical assistance during transfer. This is confirmed in interview with Emergency Department Manager A on 2/24/16 during record reviews between 10:35 AM and 3:00 PM, agreeing there should be risks related to the patient's diagnosis and not having medical assistance during transfer. Patient #16's medical record review revealed Patient #16 arrived in the Emergency Department on 11/4/15 with a complaint of dizziness. Patient #16 was transferred to another facility due to need for further evaluation and repeated episodes. The patient was transferred by private car. The Transfer Assessment and Certification Hospital to Hospital states Benefits/Reason for Transfer as "imaging" and Risks as "transfer/decompensation". This is confirmed in interview with Emergency Department Manager A on 2/24/16 during record reviews between 10:35 AM and 3:00 PM, agreeing there should be risks related to the patient's diagnosis and not having medical assistance during transfer, Manager A also stated it benefits should have been more specific related to Magnetic Resonance Imaging that is not available at the facility. Patient #17's medical record review revealed Patient #17 arrived in the Emergency Department on 12/7/15 with a complaint of abdominal pain. Patient #17 was transferred to another facility due to an incarcerated hernia. The Transfer Assessment and Certification Hospital to Hospital states "surgery" for Benefits/Reason for Transfer and under Risks "worsening condition risks of transfer", and is not specific to the patient's diagnosis. This is confirmed in interview with Emergency Department Manager A on 2/24/16 during record reviews between 10:35 AM and 3:00 PM, agreeing the benefits should be more specific than surgery and risks should be specific to the patient's diagnosis.

See Less ↑
Notes

“Average time” refers to the median wait time (the midpoint of all patients' wait times). References to “doctor or medical practitioner” indicate a doctor, nurse practitioner or physician's assistant. CMS reports the CT scan quality measure as the percentage of patients who received a scan within 45 minutes. We have reversed that measure so that all measures follow a “lower is better” pattern.

Additional design and development by Mike Tigas and Sisi Wei.

Sources

All data comes from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Detailed quality measures at the hospital, state and national level were last updated September 2019. Most data was collected between October 2017 and October 2018. Data on ER-related violations is from January 2015 to June 2019.

Additional Info

How We've Updated ER Inspector | Download ProPublica's Emergency Room Planning Toolkit | About This Data

Don’t See Your ER?

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In other cases, the hospital is missing from the federal government’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) data. There are a couple of reasons why a hospital isn’t included in CMS data: it may not participate in Medicare, or it may share a certification number with another hospital (common across large hospital systems).

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