Emergencies happen every day in a hospital – not just in the emergency department. Regardless of a hospital’s size or location, provisions must be in place to address and treat emergency care issues for patients. This program will address the CMS Conditions of Participation for both acute and critical access hospitals.

Every hospital that has a dedicated emergency department and accepts Medicare and Medicaid payment must follow the federal law and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Conditions of Participation Interpretive Guidelines on the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA).

Hospitals without such emergency departments must comply with EMTALA if they have specialized capabilities. For example, EMTALA can impact obstetrical patients and behavioral health patients.

This program will provide information on CMS requirements for hospitals to meet both emergency services and a brief overview of applicable law regarding EMTALA. There will also be a discussion of the recently implemented maternal safety standards acute hospitals must meet.

Learning Objectives:-

• Describe the requirement for emergency services in an acute hospital to be integrated into other services
• Recall the required14 emergency department written policies that must be present in a Critical Access Hospital
• Describe that CMS has a list of emergency drugs and equipment every CAH must have
• Recall that hospitals must also comply with EMTALA requirements in addition to emergency services requirements.

Agenda:-

Emergency Services – Acute Hospitals

• Need for P&P
• Qualified RN to assess patients
• Basic patient care requirements
  • Services must meet patient needs
  • Following standards of practice
  • Integrated into hospital PI
  • Qualified medical director
  • Policies required
  • Training required
  • Urgent care clinics
  • Supervision of services
  • Adequate personnel

Emergency Services – Critical Access Hospitals

• 14 Emergency department policies
• ED staffing
• Equipment, Supplies, and Medication
• Blood and Blood Products
• Staffing/Personnel
• Coordination with Emergency Response Systems
• Emergency medical services
• Emergency procedures

EMTALA Obligations

• Basic obligations
• Capacity and Capability
• Physician lists
• Central log
• Medical Screening examination
• Pregnant patients and stabilization
• Admit or transfer

Obstetrical Services – Maternal Safety Standards

• Organization and staffing
• Delivery of services
• Required equipment
• Provisions and protocols
• Staff training requirements

Appendix and Resources

Who Should Attend?

• CEOs
• Chief Nursing Officer
• Accreditation and regulation director
• Nurse managers/supervisors
• Quality managers
• Risk managers
• Nurses
• Nurse educators
• Patient safety officer
• Emergency department directors.