Compliance Checklist

Use this checklist developed by Stephen A. Frew, JD, president of the Rockford, IL-based Frew Consulting Group, which specializes in compliance with the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), to comply with new EMTALA regulations for hospital outpatient facilities:

• Determine 250-yard zone or marked campus, whichever is larger.

• Create site map.

• Visually mark the perimeter to help in planning.

• Evaluate private locations within that zone.

— Include streets, parking areas, and similar public areas.

— Include areas that the public would consider hospital services.

• Evaluate emergency notification options for all areas.

Evaluate physical obstacles:

• response time of EMS to scene;

• obstacles to movement of equipment;

• complications created by adverse weather situations;

• ask EMS to help in this assessment.

Determine who will be included in a "Zone" response:

• code;

• non-code;

• unknown situation.

Determine what equipment will be needed to respond:

• code;

• non-code;

• location of equipment for response;

• who is responsible for getting the equipment to the scene;

• what communication capability you will provide;

• >ensure that all equipment is field-capable;

• consider EMS consulting assistance;

• order all necessary equipment STAT.

• Determine how to alert personnel and identify location.

• Create policies and procedures to support plan.

• Post plan outlines in all involved areas.

• Train all personnel in their respective roles.

• Field-test the plan several times before finalizing.

• Revise plan based on findings of tests.