Under the new regulations that the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized
September 9, 2003, the 150-yard rule still applies
under the definition of a hospital campus.
Under this rule, if a person comes within 150 yards
of your hospital and you believe they have a possible
emergency under a prudent layperson standard,
your hospital is required to provide emergency care.
This would not preclude calling the police, calling
911, or utilizing an ambulance if the patient was
across a public thoroughfare, or if the situation posed
a danger to hospital staff.
In addition, the hospital has a clear obligation under
the Emergency Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA)
to provide emergency care for any patient or visitor
who appears to have an emergency medical condition
in the eyes of a prudent layperson. Hospitals
should train all staff members in light of this requirement,
including janitors and security personnel, and
EDs should develop policies and procedures for care
and transport in these situations.
