Certified Revenue Cycle Representative (CRCR) Practice Exam

What do EMTALA regulations require on-call physicians to do?

1. Personally appear in the emergency department and attend to the patient within a reasonable time

2. Consult with the primary care physician before seeing the patient

3. Provide telemedicine support for emergency cases

4. Delegate the responsibility to another physician

The correct answer is: Personally appear in the emergency department and attend to the patient within a reasonable time

EMTALA, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, mandates that hospitals must provide a certain level of care to all patients who present in the emergency department, regardless of their ability to pay. One key aspect of this regulation pertains to on-call physicians. They are required to come to the emergency department to evaluate and treat patients requiring their specialty care if they are on-call for that service. This responsibility ensures that patients receive timely medical attention and appropriate interventions. The requirement for on-call physicians to personally appear in the emergency department underscores the law's emphasis on guaranteeing medical care access and preventing delays in treatment that could jeopardize patient outcomes. This obligation is rooted in the goal of EMTALA to safeguard patients against potential negligence or inappropriate transfers, ensuring that those needing emergency services receive the necessary medical evaluation and treatment without undue delay.