A 39-Year-Old Unkempt Homeless Lady Arrives at the ER Complaining

A 39-year-old unkempt homeless lady arrives at the ER complaining of stomach discomfort. The woman has a heavy alcohol odor and appears dazed. She characterizes the abdomen discomfort as "very awful," but she cannot say when it began, where it is located, or what circumstances aggravate or alleviate it. She goes on to say that she does not have health insurance and cannot afford to pay for her care. What is the next best course of action in this situation?

A) Inform patient that she cannot receive care unless she pays in advance
B) Ask patient's family members to either assume liability for her bill or take her home
C) Provide appropriate medical screening exam and stabilize her condition
D) Transfer patient to the county hospital by ambulance immediately
E) Refer patient to a local free clinic for follow up next week

Correct Answer:

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