The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act

The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) was passed in 1986 by the US Congress. The purpose of this legislation was to ensure patient access to emergency medical treatment and to prevent the practice of transferring uninsured patients solely for financial reasons. This course summarizes historical perspectives, discusses the requirements, and explains penalties and enforcement procedures set forth under EMTALA guidelines.

Course Objectives:

• Overview of EMTALA.
• Provide information concerning applicable medical tests, conditions, and specific instances.
• Discuss hospital duties as they relate to EMTALA. These include transfer and stabilization requirements as well as medical staff on-call procedures.
• Address enforcement actions related to violations of EMTALA.

Duration: 45 min.   Chapters: 4