Pediatric emergency care
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Pediatric emergency care · Dec 2022
No Difference in Mortality and Outcomes After Addition of Nearby Pediatric Trauma Center.
Previous studies demonstrate that higher volume pediatric trauma centers (PTCs) offer improved outcomes. This study evaluated pediatric trauma volume and outcomes at an existing level I (L-I) adult and level II (L-II) PTC after the addition of a new children's hospital L-II PTC within a 2-mile radius, hypothesizing no difference in mortality and complications. ⋯ After opening a second L-II PTC within a 2-mile radius, there was an increase in the rate of admissions and self-transportation to the preexisting L-II PTC. Despite a nearly 26% decrease in pediatric trauma volume, there was no difference in length of stay, hospital complications, or mortality.
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Pediatric emergency care · Dec 2022
Observational StudyRelationship Between Body Temperature and Heart Rate in Children With No Other Apparent Cause of Tachycardia.
The aim of the study was to investigate the normal heart rate range for each body temperature in patients visiting the emergency department (ED) with no other, apparent, coexisting factors causing tachycardia. ⋯ We created new, age-dependent heart rate percentile curves for body temperature for use in the ED setting. In outpatients, the effect of coexisting factors affecting heart rate, such as crying, may be higher among younger patients.
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Pediatric emergency care · Dec 2022
Case ReportsSelective Skeletal Surveys for Infants With Skull Fractures: Examining the Rates of Return to Medical Care for Concern of Physical Abuse.
This study aimed to describe which infants with a skull fracture (1) receive a child abuse pediatrician (CAP) consultation, (2) receive a skeletal survey, and (3) re-present to medical care before age 3 years with concerns for physical abuse. ⋯ Most skull fractures in infancy occur accidentally, and a skeletal survey may not be necessary for every infant. Obtaining a thorough history including social risk factors, performing a complete physical examination, and consulting with a CAP is an effective first step in the evaluation of physical abuse in infants with skull fractures.
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Pediatric emergency care · Dec 2022
Risk Factors for Longer Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Length of Stay Among Children Who Required Escalation of Care Within 24 Hours of Admission.
Children who require early escalation of care (EOC) to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) after floor admission have higher mortality and increased hospital length of stay (LOS) as compared with direct emergency department (ED) admissions. This study was designed to identify subgroups of patients within this cohort (EOC to PICU within 24 hours of hospital admission) who have worse outcomes (actual PICU LOS [aLOS] > predicted PICU LOS [pLOS]). ⋯ Among patients who required EOC to PICU, risk factors associated with aLOS > pLOS were patients who required EOC to PICU longer than 6 hours after admission to the hospital and patients admitted to the floor as a transfer from referral hospitals.
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Pediatric emergency care · Dec 2022
Redirecting Nonurgent Patients From the Pediatric Emergency Department to Their Pediatrician Office for a Same-Day Visit-A Quality Improvement Initiative.
Providing high-quality care in the appropriate setting to optimize value is a worthy goal of an efficient health system. Consequences of managing nonurgent complaints in the emergency department (ED) have been described including inefficiency, loss of the primary care-patient relationship, and delayed care for other ED patients. The purpose of this initiative was to redirect nonurgent patients arriving in the ED to their primary care office for a same-day visit, and the SMART AIM was to increase redirected patients from 0% of those eligible to 30% in a 12-month period. ⋯ This initiative redirected nonurgent patients efficiently from a PED setting to their primary care office. The process is beneficial to patients and families and supports the patient-centered medical home. The balancing measure of no harm done to patients who accepted redirect reinforced the reliability of PED triage. The benefits achieved through the project highlight the value of the primary care-patient relationship and the continued need to improve access for patients and families.