What it means
A federal law for hospitals that take Medicare and have an emergency department. They must give every person who asks a medical screening exam, and if an emergency condition or active labor is found, stabilize the person or arrange an appropriate transfer. A hospital may not delay care to ask about insurance or payment, and may not transfer an unstable client for financial reasons ("patient dumping").
For the nurse
Never send away or delay care for a person seeking emergency help because of payment. A transfer needs a receiving hospital that has accepted, records sent along and the right staff and equipment for the trip.
At a glance
| Also written | Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act |
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Related terms
informed consent
A person's agreement to a treatment or procedure, given freely after the risks, benefits and other choices have been explained to them.
triage
Sorting clients by how urgently they need care, to decide who is seen first.