In: Nursing
What is EMTALA?
THE EMERGENCY TREATMENT AND ACTIVE LABOR ACT is the full form of EMTALA. This law was passed in the year of 1986 as a part of the COBRA.
Obligations
Here according to this law the patient will able to get a good meadical care when its needed. Everyone who gets into the emergency department or women with labour is safe to get all care or treatment at the time of emergency. *anyone who comes in to ED should undergo a proper medical screening and treatment by a qualified medical professional. Also women with labour..
Examination of a patient should not be delayed because of any reason like finance ,insurance, nationaliy,or any other factor. Also all hospitals should ready to receive patient who is not able to stabilize by a receiving hospital because of their unavailability of stabilizing capabilities. Also should not transfer a patient without a proper reason . The patient should be stable for transfer.if anyone transfered like that that should be the violation of law.
Here physicians are also have very important role. Any one in on call duty should be able to handle the situation .They should have a general ideas.
EXAMPLE.
When a patient ’A’ came hospital ED with complaints of haemetemesis after a midnight, the on-call from ED makes call to gastroenterologist to come and evaluate the patient . then he came and says that "refer the patient to Global hospital now iam too tired and has a full day of procedures tomorrow,"
** Here i n these case the doctor is violating the law.when he can treat this patient and also capability of hospital can treat this patient he is clearly violating the EMTALA.
EMTALA is really good for the patient benefits irrespective of their disadvantages.everyone will be equally treated according to their needs.