The Journal of pediatrics
-
The Journal of pediatrics · Sep 2012
Blunt head trauma in children in a community health care setting: outcomes and variables associated with the use of computed tomography.
To evaluate the incidence of clinically important traumatic brain injury (ciTBI) in children presenting to a community hospital setting and identified factors associated with computed tomography (CT) use. ⋯ Patients in our community hospital setting are at low risk of ciTBI. The clinical indicators used to determine the need for CT in patients with more significant mechanisms of injury to pediatric or academic centers may not apply to this group. Future studies are required to determine which clinical indications are significant in this setting.
-
The Journal of pediatrics · Sep 2012
The 2011 Tuscaloosa tornado: integration of pediatric disaster services into regional systems of care.
To empirically describe the integration of pediatric disaster services into regional systems of care after the April 27, 2011, tornado in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, a community with no pediatric emergency department or pediatric intensive care unit and few pediatric subspecialists. ⋯ Essential aspects of preparation include pediatric-specific clinical skills, supplies and equipment, operational disaster plans, and interagency practice embedded in everyday work. Opportunities for improvement identified include more timely response to warnings, improved practices for identifying unaccompanied children, and enhanced child safety in shelters. Successful responses depended on integration of pediatric services into regional systems of care.