r/Paramedics • u/Dowcastle-medic Paramedic • Jun 25 '25

US EMTALA and bypassing a hospital

So I had a pt today totally stable but she has an injury I know the local type 4 community hospital (20min) is not going to be able to fix. It was suggested by the clinic staff where I picked her up to go to the type 3, 1.5 hours away. But one of the ER drs for the community hospital happened to be there and looked at the injury and said no just take her to our hospital.

She said the type 3 couldn’t deal with that either and she would need to go to One 3.5 hours away so go and get her c spine cleared…

So we did and then I get chewed out by the ER drs on call saying I can NEVER bypass them based on EMTALA. I always have to stop and let them stabilize the pt and cat scan and such…

That’s not true is it?

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99

u/ggrnw27 FP-C Jun 25 '25

Nope. Assuming you don’t actually work for the hospital, EMTALA doesn’t apply to you at all

20

u/Dowcastle-medic Paramedic Jun 25 '25

That’s what I thought.

13

u/dezstern Jun 26 '25

Might be worth an incident report. Depending on your medical director and their relationship with the hospital, they might be able to do some education with the staff so they are corrected in their understanding. Or at least stand up for you. Chewing you out is unprofessional.

You don't work for them. They are your colleagues not your bosses.