title: Is this case an EMTALA violation?
abstract: The advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) working in the emergency department (ED) is asked to see a patient with an "eye infection." The patient has a severe retrobulbar orbital abscess requiring complex multidisciplinary specialty management and is ultimately transferred to a tertiary care center. The patient had first presented to a community ED per the recommendation of her ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist. The patient was advised to leave the first ED during triage and to go to a second community ED. Although the referring physician was made aware of the recommendation to have the patient drive to another facility, the APRN questions whether this is a case of an Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) violation. This article defines EMTALA and evaluates the case.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark.
authors.forename: Courtney E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Reinisch
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lyons
mesh_terms: D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D014481:United States