Health Law Monitor

How EMTALA Changes During A Pandemic

March 16, 2020

The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (“EMTALA”) requires a hospital to properly screen and stabilize all patients that present to the emergency room for care.¹ There is inherent tension between a hospital’s legal and ethical obligations and the realities of responding to a pandemic disaster.  During the current COVID-19 pandemic, the significant surge the health care system is…

Expedited Credentialing and Addressing Staffing Shortages During Coronavirus Pandemic

March 12, 2020

Hospitals should anticipate coronavirus patients filling hospital beds from coast to coast based on projections for COVID-19 spread. Healthcare workers, and healthcare providers may become patients needing treatment for the virus resulting in possible shortages of staffing at hospitals, urgent care centers, and even nursing homes.  

Hospitals should have policies in place related to the…