Just the Facts
The three main obligations for a hospital under EMTALA
What are The medical screening exam, stabilize emergency medical condition, appropriate transfer
One way a patient can fulfill the requirement for EMTALA "comes to the emergency department"
What is "The patient presents to a hospital's dedicated emergency department and requests care for a medical condition"
If an individual comes to the emergency department requesting care, the hospital will provide an appropriate medical screening examination without regard to ability to pay
What is "Thou shall not delay the Medical Screening Exam"
The treating physician determines with reasonable clinical confidence the EMC has been resolved and patient is stable for either transfer or discharge
What is Stabilized
Transfering an unstable patient without meeting criteria
What is an inappropriate transfer?
The Anti-Dumping Law
What is the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) enacted in 1986 by Congress?
The distance a patient can be from the hospital and EMTALA is invoked
What is On hospital property within 250 yards of the main building
Provide a medical screening examination appropriate to the individuals presenting signs and symptoms as well as the capability and capacity of the hospital
What is "Thou shall provide necessary testing"
An average non-clinical person
What is Prudent lay person
This may trigger a fine from CMS
What is a violation?
The controlling agency that provides oversight for EMTALA
What is CMS; Center for Medicare/Medicaid Service
The definition of a patient that falls under EMTALA when presenting for medical care
What is "All patients"
Required of the hospital if an emergency medical condition is discovered
What is "Thou shall stabilize an emergency medical condition if found during the medical screening examination"
Determining emergent needs from non-emergent needs
What is TRIAGE?
25,000-50,000 dollar penalty
What is the average fine per violation?
The criteria to determine if EMTALA applies to your hospital
What is "Participates in the federal Medicare health insurance program"
One of the ways a patient can fulfill the "comes to the emergency department" requirement of EMTALA
What is "The patient is in a hospital owned and operated ambulance even if the ambulance is not on hospital property"
Triage is the clinical assessment of the patients presenting signs and symptoms in order to prioritize when the patient will be seen by a provider; MSE is the process by which the provider with reasonable clinical confidence determines whether or not the pt has an EMC.
What is "Thou shall not confuse triage with medical screening exam"
The responsibility of all staff members
What is ensuring patients needs are met (also accept EMTALA compliance)
An exam completed by a qualified medical provider on a patient presenting to the hospital
What is an Emergency Medical Screening Exam?
The three conditions under which a transfer is appropriate
What is requested transfer, written certified transfer, and verbal certified transfer
Another way a patient can fulfill the "comes to the emergency department" requirement of EMTALA
What is "The patient is in a nonhospital-owned ambulance that has arrived on hospital property"
Transfer patients only for services or care not available at your facility
What is "Thou shall only transfer when clinically indicated and medically appropriate"
Components of the medical screening examination
What is "Triage record, review of medical history, ongoing recording of vital signs, physical examination, any necessary lab testing or imaging studies to rule out or rule in EMC"
Purpose of this record is to track the care provided to each individual who comes to the hospital seeking care for an emergency medical condition.
What is the Central Log?