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Description
Hospitals must comply with CMS emergency services requirements and EMTALA obligations under the 2026 Conditions of Participation. Whether an acute care hospital or a Critical Access Hospital (CAH), facilities are required to maintain policies, staffing, equipment, and protocols that meet federal standards established by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and enforced under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act.
This webinar provides a detailed review of CMS Hospital Conditions of Participation related to emergency services, EMTALA compliance requirements, and newly implemented maternal safety standards. Healthcare leaders will gain practical guidance to remain survey-ready and reduce regulatory risk in 2026.
Learning Objectives
- Describe the requirement for emergency services in an acute hospital to be integrated into other services
- Recall the 14 emergency department written policies a Critical Access Hospital should have to address emergency services
- Describe that CMS has a list of emergency drugs and equipment that every CAH must have
- Recall that hospitals must also comply with EMTALA requirements in addition to emergency services requirements.
Agenda
CMS Emergency Services Requirements – Acute Hospitals
- Need for P&P
- Qualified RN to assess patients
- Basic patient care requirements
- Services must meet patient needs
- Following standards of practice
- Integrated into hospital PI
- Qualified medical director
- Policies required
- Training required
- Urgent care clinics
- Supervision of services
- Adequate personnel
- Emergency Services Readiness
Emergency Services Requirements – Critical Access Hospitals (CAH)
- Recommended 14 Emergency department policies
- ED staffing
- Equipment, Supplies, and Medication
- Blood and Blood Products
- Staffing/Personnel
- Coordination with Emergency Response Systems
- Emergency medical services
- Emergency procedures
EMTALA Obligations for Hospitals
- Basic obligations
- Capacity and Capability
- Physician lists
- Central log
- Medical Screening examination
- Pregnant patients and stabilization
- Admit or transfer
Obstetrical Services & Maternal Safety Standards
- Organization and staffing
- Delivery of services
- Required equipment
- Provisions and protocols
- Staff training requirements
Appendix and Resources
Who Should Attend
- CEOs
- Chief Nursing Officer
- Accreditation and regulation director
- Nurse managers/supervisors
- Quality managers
- Risk managers
- Nurses
- Nurse educators
- Patient safety officer
- Emergency department directors.
Faqs
What are EMTALA obligations for hospitals in 2026?
Hospitals must provide a medical screening examination, stabilize emergency medical conditions, and comply with transfer requirements under federal law.
Do Critical Access Hospitals have EMTALA responsibilities?
Yes. CAHs must comply with EMTALA requirements if they offer emergency services or have specialized capabilities.
What are CMS emergency services requirements for acute hospitals?
CMS requires adequate staffing, written policies, integration into performance improvement programs, and emergency readiness standards.
What are the maternal safety standards under CMS?
Acute hospitals must implement specific staffing, equipment, and training protocols to ensure safe obstetrical care.
Speaker
Laura A. Dixon recently served as the Regional Director of Risk Management and Patient Safety for Kaiser Permanente Colorado, providing consultation and resources to clinical staff. Prior to joining Kaiser, she served as the Director of Facility Patient Safety and Risk Management and Operations for COPIC from 2014 to 2020. In her role, Ms. Dixon provided patient safety and risk management consultation and training to facilities, practitioners, and staff in multiple states. Such services included creating presentations on risk management topics, assessing healthcare facilities, developing programs, and compiling reference materials that complement physician-oriented products.
Before joining COPIC, she served as the Director, of the Western Region, Patient Safety and Risk Management for The Doctors Company, Napa, California. In this capacity, she provided patient safety and risk management consultation to the physicians and staff in the western United States. Ms. Dixon’s legal experience includes medical malpractice insurance defense and representation of nurses before the Colorado Board of Nursing.
Ms. Dixon has over twenty years of clinical experience in acute care facilities, including critical care, coronary care, peri-operative services, and pain management.
As a registered nurse and attorney, Laura holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Regis University, RECEP of Denver, a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Drake University College of Law, Des Moines, Iowa, and a Registered Nurse Diploma from Saint Luke’s School Professional Nursing, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She is licensed to practice law in Colorado and California.