Volunteers/Volunteer Orientation/EMTALA
EMTALA
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The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) is a statute which governs when and how a patient may be (1) refused treatment or (2) transferred from one hospital to another when the patient is in an unstable medical condition.
EMTALA is primarily, but not exclusively, a non-discrimination statute. Simply put, it provides that no patient who presents with an emergency medical condition, and who is unable to pay, may be treated differently than patients who are covered by health insurance.
As a volunteer, if you encounter someone on campus or within 250 yards of the main building that requests or appears to need medical assistance, please assist them to the Emergency Department or call Security. If you are unable to determine if the person needs medical assistance due to a language barrier, please contact Security or take them to the Emergency Department.