If an emergency is identified, what must the hospital do under EMTALA?

If an emergency is identified, what must the hospital do under EMTALA?

• A. Discharge immediately
• B. Delay treatment until insurance approves
• C. Stabilize before discharge/admission/transfer
• D. Transfer without stabilizing

Answer: (C)

When an emergency is identified, hospitals must stabilize the patient before any discharge, admission, or transfer. EMTALA requires a medical screening to determine if an emergency condition exists, and if it does, provide stabilizing treatment with the hospital’s available resources so the condition is no longer an emergency or the patient can be transferred safely. Insurance or payment concerns cannot delay this stabilization. If transfer is needed, it should occur only after stabilization unless the receiving facility can provide appropriate care and the transfer is properly coordinated and consented.

When an emergency is identified, hospitals must stabilize the patient before any discharge, admission, or transfer. EMTALA requires a medical screening to determine if an emergency condition exists, and if it does, provide stabilizing treatment with the hospital’s available resources so the condition is no longer an emergency or the patient can be transferred safely. Insurance or payment concerns cannot delay this stabilization. If transfer is needed, it should occur only after stabilization unless the receiving facility can provide appropriate care and the transfer is properly coordinated and consented.