One LAST time for C1200:
Emergency Medical Condition (EMC) Defined
Q. How is an emergency medical condition defined in the Baker Act?
The Baker Act has no separate definition for an emergency medical condition; it refers to the hospital
licensure law for this definition, as follows.
395.002 Definitions.-- As used in this chapter:
(8) "Emergency medical condition" means:
(a) A medical condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity, which may
include severe pain, such that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably
be expected to result in any of the following:
1. Serious jeopardy to patient health, including a pregnant woman or fetus.
2. Serious impairment to bodily functions.
3. Serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part.
(b) With respect to a pregnant woman:
1. That there is inadequate time to effect safe transfer to another hospital prior to delivery;
2. That a transfer may pose a threat to the health and safety of the patient or fetus; or
3. That there is evidence of the onset and persistence of uterine contractions or rupture of the
membranes.
(9) "Emergency services and care" means medical screening, examination, and evaluation by
a physician, or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, by other appropriate personnel under
the supervision of a physician, to determine if an emergency medical condition exists and, if it
does, the care, treatment, or surgery by a physician necessary to relieve or eliminate the
emergency medical condition, within the service capability of the facility.