Pediatric emergency care
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Pediatric emergency care · Jan 2006
Nonurgent use of a pediatric emergency department: a preliminary qualitative study.
To understand patterns of decision making among families presenting to a pediatric emergency department (ED) for nonacute care and to understand pediatric ED staff responses. ⋯ In this setting, nonacute visits occurred with lower than perceived frequency and caused disproportionate frustration among staff and families. These visits appear to be driven more by consequences of system design and structure than by family members' decision making. Mistrust of primary care services was not a strong family decision-making factor; the study's setting may have limited its ability to capture such data. Recommended system changes to lower barriers to primary care include expanded office hours, subsidized staffing for offices in medically underserved areas, and lowering barriers to sick care.
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Pediatric emergency care · Jan 2006
Young children's perceptions of physicians wearing standard precautions versus customary attire.
The aim of the study was to determine if young children have a preference regarding whether physicians wear standard precautions attire. ⋯ Physicians wearing standard precautions attire while working in the pediatric emergency department need to be aware that this attire may negatively impact their relationship with pediatric patients 4 to 8 years of age.
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Pediatric emergency care · Jan 2006
Use of a pediatric observation unit for treatment of children with dehydration caused by gastroenteritis.
Observation units (OUs) have emerged as a cost-saving alternative to traditional ward admission for many pediatric illnesses. Dehydration caused by gastroenteritis is a common reason for admission to a pediatric OU. In this study, we describe characteristics of patients with presumed gastroenteritis admitted to a pediatric OU and seek to identify factors associated with unplanned inpatient admission, defined as the inability to discharge an OU patient within 24 hours. ⋯ Most patients with dehydration caused by gastroeneritis who need more treatment and observation than can reasonably be offered in an emergency department setting should be considered for OU admission regardless of their historical or laboratory characteristics.