EMTALA Application and Obligations

Primary Application: Emergency Departments

• All patients who come to an ED requesting care must receive a medical screening examination and necessary stabilizing treatment without unnecessary delay and without regard to ability to pay 1, 2, 3

Extension to Outpatient Settings: Critical Nuances

• If a patient presents to any hospital-owned outpatient facility on the hospital campus with a request for examination or treatment of what could be an emergency medical condition, the facility must provide an appropriate medical screening examination and stabilizing treatment within its capability 1, 2, 4

Physician Responsibilities in Outpatient Settings

• On-call physician services must be available within a reasonable time to provide necessary stabilizing treatment without regard to ability to pay 1, 2, 4
• Transfer of patient care responsibilities must be orderly, clearly defined, and properly documented 2, 4