What is one requirement for transferring an unstable patient under EMTALA?

One of the primary requirements for transferring an unstable patient under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) is ensuring that the receiving hospital is capable and available to provide the necessary care. This means that the transferring facility must have confirmed that the receiving hospital has the capacity to accept the patient and treat their condition.

While factors such as the patient's insurance status, consent, and family notification are important in the overall care process, they are not specific requirements mandated by EMTALA for the transfer of an unstable patient. Instead, EMTALA focuses on the legal responsibilities of hospitals to provide emergency medical treatment and ensure a medical screening examination is performed, and then to arrange transfers only when certain criteria are met, including the receiving facility's ability to accept the patient.

Thus, ensuring the receiving hospital has availability is crucial for safeguarding the patient's ongoing care and stability during the transfer process.