A nurse is caring for a group of uninsured clients in the emergency department of a private hospital. Which of the following actions should the nurse identify as a violation of a client's rights according to the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA)?
Explanation & Rationale
A. "A client was placed in the waiting room based on their triage assessment." Hospitals can prioritize clients based on triage assessment as long as they receive a medical screening examination and stabilizing treatment if necessary. B. "A client was transferred to the inpatient antepartum unit to rule out preterm labor." EMTALA requires that hospitals evaluate and stabilize clients with emergency medical conditions, including preterm labor. Transferring a client within the same facility for further evaluation does not violate EMTALA. C. "A client was referred to the county hospital for medical screening evaluation." Under EMTALA, hospitals must provide a medical screening examination and necessary stabilizing treatment before referring or transferring a client, regardless of their insurance status. Sending a client elsewhere for evaluation without treatment is a violation. D. "A stable client was transferred to a public hospital that provides reduced-cost care." Once a client has been stabilized, hospitals may arrange for transfer to another facility, provided the transfer meets EMTALA guidelines and is in the client's best interest.