Re: EMTALA

[IraJB@aol.com]

Judi,

As I read it, EMTALA makes no such reference at all.  The only reference to ambulances that might deal with the prehospital setting is with regard to the definition of "Comes to the emergency department. . ."

According to the regulations "the individual is on the hospital property (property includes ambulances owned and operated by the hospital, even if the ambulance is not on hospital grounds). An individual in a nonhospital-owned ambulance on hospital property is considered to have come to the hospital's emergency department. An individual in a nonhospital-owned ambulance off hospital property is not considered to have come to the hospital's emergency department, even if a member of the ambulance staff contacts the hospital by telephone or telemetry communications and informs the hospital that they want to transport the individual to the hospital for examination and treatment."

Nothing says which ambulance (air or ground) should be called to the scene.  

Ira Blumen