The healthcare system in the country and the emergency departments in particular has experienced both the good and bad of EMTALA many years after its implementation. EMTALA has proved beyond unreasonable doubt as being the most transformative kind of legislation in the world of healthcare since the enactment of Medicare. This is how this legislation has impacted the health care industry.<\/p>\n
Before this law came into effect, patients were rampantly abused especially those who were not as lucrative as such before EMTALA came by. Many patients were turned away from the hospitals at the doorstep, dumped wantonly on the nearby facilities that operated on the basis of \u2018Good Samaritan\u2019 if any and simply refused medical care at the facilities they visited. However, this legislation has changed all these by protecting the patients and giving them the option of choosing the institution where they wish to be cared at and are assured that no one can railroad them against their will. This is a pretty good thing as every patient is assured of getting the care they need anytime they visit a healthcare facility of their choice.<\/p>\n
Although inefficient, incomplete and limited, EMTALA has led to the creation of a de facto universal medical care. Any person in the country regardless of their legal or economic status can confidently walk to an Emergency Room and receive the much needed emergency care if necessary. Not so great for non- emergent or chronic conditions and also not so great for post acute and preventative care as well. Under this law, ER doctors and other healthcare specialists are obligated to offer the needed care to patients.<\/p>\n
EMTALA has also succeeded in eliminating the barriers imposed by insurers that limited accessibility to emergency care. Even though this wasn\u2019t an immediate achievement, EMTALA has significantly wielded the requirements for one to be pre- authorized to access ER services and this has created a way for universal \u2018Prudent Layperson\u2019 standards in getting emergency care.<\/p>\n