National Association of Freestanding Emergency Rooms (NAFEC)

The National Association of Freestanding Emergency Centers (NAFEC) is an advocate for freestanding emergency care facilities and the patients they serve. The association represents members in healthcare policy development and promotes freestanding emergency care as an effective option for timely, cost-effective, high-quality healthcare nationwide. Freestanding Emergency Centers (FECs) are state licensed, full-service emergency departments staffed 24/7 with emergency trained ER physicians and nurses. Although structurally separate from a hospital, FECs offer all the capabilities of a hospital-based ER, including advanced imaging (CT, X-ray, Ultrasound), onsite laboratory and pharmacy. FECs are EMTALA-compliant, meaning they are required to provide medical screening examinations and stabilize all patients with an emergent condition. In 2009, FECs were a new type of emergency care provider created to improve access to emergency services. As this innovative care delivery model grew, NAFEC was founded to advocate for FECs and their patients. The association has dedicated itself to educating legislators, regulators, and the general public about the unique value FECs bring to the healthcare landscape. NAFEC has grown to represent all models of freestanding emergency care, including independently operated FECs, specialty emergency hospitals, physician and proprietary owned facilities, hospital outpatient departments, and joint venture partnerships between FECs and hospitals. The association promotes ethical business practices in the FEC industry, implementing guidelines to ensure members operate their facilities in a fiscally and socially responsible manner. By providing an ongoing advocacy presence in Washington, DC, NAFEC represents member perspectives on national legislative and policy issues and provides a unified voice for freestanding emergency care across the country. State chapters of NAFEC also promote and safeguard freestanding emergency care in their respecti