Accepting a patient
Formal Definition
The process by which a physician or service formally agrees to take over primary or co-management responsibility for a patient, either as a transfer of care from the ED or a referring hospital, or as a new admission to a specific service; verbal acceptance establishes legal responsibility followed by written orders and documentation.
How It's Used on the Ward
"Accepting the patient" or "will you accept this transfer?" — one service or hospital agreeing to take responsibility for a patient.
Example
""ED calling with a STEMI: 'We have a 58-year-old with ST elevations, BP 90/60. Will cardiology accept?' Accepting MD: 'Cardiology accepts. Activating the cath lab. Bring them directly to the cath lab when they arrive.'""
Clinical Context
EMTALA (Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act): hospitals with specialized capabilities cannot refuse transfers from hospitals without those capabilities if the transfer is medically necessary and the receiving hospital has capacity. Verbal acceptance establishes responsibility — the accepting physician is now legally accountable even before the patient arrives. Transfer documentation: accepting physician, accepting hospital, transport mode, receiving unit. When capacity is truly full: must document genuine capacity constraints; diversion for financial reasons violates EMTALA.
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