The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) has been debated since its conception. The two primary camps in the debate focus on its effect on emergency departments (ED) across the nation. Some cite that EMTALA has caused the closing of 560 hospitals and 1200 EDs since its enactment in 1986. Others say that EMTALA is being used as a scapegoat. They make the point that many of the majority of the hospitals and EDs were closed in an effort cut costs and increase efficiency.
In any case neither side of the argument denies the reality of overcrowded emergency rooms--an issue the healthcare managers of tomorrow are going to have to grapple with daily.
The primary source for this post can be found at
http://virtualmentor.ama-assn.org/2010/06/hlaw1-1006.html
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