Starting with this article, we will be publishing actual EMTALA citations as examples of real-world enforcement. These examples are excerpted from my next book EMTALA Enforcement that I hope to have ready for release before April of this year.
FILE: 11-001
DATE: January 20, 2011
STATE: Alabama
TAG: A2405
TITLE: Emergency Room Log
ALLEGED VIOLATION:
“Review of the central log from December 12, 2010 to January 17, 2011… revealed 10 of 34 patient entries did not have the disposition documented.”
NOTE: Citations issued by CMS for EMTALA violations are allegations that have not been proven in any court and the information is presented here in summary format for educational purposes only to demonstrate the circumstances which in the view of CMS constitute EMTALA violations. Identifying information is removed to focus on the allegation without prejudicing the facility.