“Medicine has become so complex that it is easy for physicians to become overly burdened with extra clinical and non-clinical work outside of the hospital/clinic resulting in a vicious cycle of losing their non-medical identity.”

A University of Colorado-Denver student gained unauthorized access to Denver Health Medical Center by posing as a medical student and interacted with at least one patient. The hospital has suspended all student and learner badge access while it is re-verifies all student credentials.

 Published 4/25/17

The Kentucky Court of Appeals (the “Court”) affirmed a circuit court’s judgment that peer review documents, produced by Saints Mary & Elizabeth Hospital (SMEH) in Louisville, were not admissible at trial in a negligence case brought by the estate of a former patient.

 Published 4/24/17

When the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act was enacted in 1986, it contained the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA). Under EMTALA, hospitals are to ensure public access to emergency services regardless of ability to pay.

 Published 4/24/17

The development of EMTALA compliance checklists and audit tools are important first steps for hospitals to initiate self-monitoring for compliance. Ongoing education and training is also essential. This EMTALA fact sheet is distributed by the HealthAlliance Hospital in Kingston, New York, with initial medical staff application packets. It can also be combined with a post-test at the time of reappointment to ensure practitioners continue to be mindful of the requirements under EMTALA.