Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act — Three-Part Virtual Series

Details

Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to Noon on July 16, July 30 and Aug. 13

Audience

CEOs, behavioral health and psychiatric staff, chief medical officers, chief nursing officers, compliance officers, legal counsel, department directors, emergency department staff, nurses, physicians, quality improvement staff, risk managers, safety officers

The following program content was provided by the speaker.

Overview

Medicare-certified hospitals must follow CMS regulations and interpretative guidelines for the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. This three-part series will focus on problematic areas of EMTALA concepts, adequacy of medical screening and on-call physician issues.

Objectives

Part One focuses on the basic requirements of EMTALA, available resources to hospitals and EMTALA definitions.

Upon completion of this session, participants will be able to:

• describe basic EMTALA requirements
• describe why EMTALA is the most-frequently cited deficiency nationwide
• discuss where EMTALA applies in the facility
• review examples of how the hospital can keep current on regulation changes

Part Two will discuss EMTALA issues such as adequacy of medical screening examinations, appropriate transfers, certification of false labor, EMTALA sign issues, and inpatient/outpatient observation.

Upon completion of this session, participants will be able to:

• describe an adequate medical screening examination for behavioral health, obstetrics and other patients
• describe an appropriate certification of false labor
• illustrate an appropriate transfer and discuss what must be included on the transfer form
• review what language must be on EMTALA signs

Part Three will focus on physician involvement with the EMTALA process including on-call physician schedules, on-call physician rules, when an on-call physician must appear in the emergency department, and how to deal with difficult patient situations such as leaving against medical advice and leaving without being seen.

Upon completion of this session, participants will be able to:

• describe on-call physician rules, including when the on-call physician must appear in the emergency department
• describe the Office of Inspector General’s role and recent on-call physician deficiencies and fines
• describe the organizational quality-improvement program role with EMTALA
• examine documentation requirements for difficult patient situations

This educational activity is provided by MHA Health Institute in collaboration with the Iowa Hospital Association.