The July 2016 issue of Healthcare Risk Management will feature a special report on the EMTALA and how hospitals and healthcare systems are letting down their guard on what remains a significant liability and safety risk.
Hospitals have been under scrutiny recently for violations of EMTALA, with one hospital agreeing to pay $100,000 for an improper transfer. From 20012 to 2015, the CMS received an average of 431 EMTALA complaints per year, and it determined that about half warranted investigation. A prime problem, some experts say, is that risk managers have become complacent about EMTALA and see it as a requirement that has been effectively integrated into emergency care.
HRM will explore how facilities can run afoul of EMTALA. We’ll look at recent examples to show how failure to understand the nuances of EMTALA requirements can lead to investigators in your facility and substantial payouts.
