EMTALA violation
Pronunciation: em-TAH-lah
Also written as: EMTALA — Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act
Failure to comply with Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act requirements for medical screening, stabilization, or appropriate transfer of emergency patients.
Full Definition
An EMTALA violation occurs when a hospital fails to provide appropriate medical screening examinations, stabilize emergency medical conditions, or arrange appropriate transfers as required by federal law. In psychiatric settings, common violations include refusing to evaluate patients in psychiatric crisis, discharging unstable patients, or transferring patients without proper stabilization or receiving hospital acceptance. Violations can result in significant fines, loss of Medicare participation, and civil liability. Hospitals must maintain detailed documentation of screening procedures, stabilization efforts, and transfer arrangements to demonstrate EMTALA compliance.
Usage
Usage note: EMTALA is pronounced em-TAH-lah. The Act applies to all hospitals receiving Medicare funding, including psychiatric facilities.
In Context
- "The hospital faced a potential EMTALA violation for transferring the suicidal patient without psychiatrist evaluation." — Risk management report
- "EMTALA violation penalties can reach $50,000 per incident for hospitals with more than 100 beds." — Compliance training material