Number of freestanding EDs up, helping ease overcrowding, serving rural areas

ED Manag. 2005 Sep;17(9):97-9.

Abstract

Freestanding EDs must look and act exactly like the ED in the main facility to meet Medicare requirements. Facilities must be open 24 hours a day with trained nursing and matching physician credentials. Specialty on-call panel must include the same physicians as the one used by main ED. Moving patients into your main hospital is a direct admit, not an Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act-covered transfer.

MeSH terms

  • Crowding*
  • Emergency Service, Hospital / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / supply & distribution*
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Rural Health Services / supply & distribution*
  • United States