Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
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To determine the relative effectiveness of pediatric asthma care among patients treated by a dedicated asthma center (AC) vs children who use the emergency department (ED) as a site of primary asthma care. ⋯ Significant disparities in quality, access, resource utilization, and functional impact exist between AC and ED patients. Emergency physicians have a unique opportunity to improve the public health by directing ED patients toward pediatric AC treatment.