I will correct you. When you have EMTALA people coming around your place investigating, they will care not what you say. They will say "someone who complains of shortness of breath gets a stethoscope to their lungs." period. You can't argue it. Well you can, but you will lose.
You see....I know this be the case because I violated EMTALA once on these very grounds!!!
Helpful information but what about the following:
COVID Specific EMTALA
• The content of the MSE varies according to the individual’s presenting signs and symptoms. It can be as simple or as complex, as needed, to determine if an EMC exists.
• MSEs must be conducted by qualified personnel, which may include physicians, nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants, or RNs trained to perform MSEs and acting within the scope of their State Practice Act.
https://www.cms.gov/files/document/qso-20-15-hospitalcahemtala.pdf
I'm talking about an exam with something like the following: "45 year old well-appearing make who ambulates easily into the room, speaks full sentences easily without difficulty, saturation 98% on room air, no tachypnea or retractions, no cyanosis"
The patient who looks unwell is a different story of course, but what clinical benefit is there in auscultation in the worried well? In that case, I would say that it could be "as simple as needed" based on the CMS language.