Arch Pediat Adol Med
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To study the effects of an inpatient asthma clinical pathway on the processes and outcomes for children who were admitted to a hospital for the treatment of asthma. ⋯ The asthma clinical pathway had no effect on clinical outcomes and small effects on the use of resources. Further development, including physician and nurse training, computer and administrative support, and clinical severity scales, are needed to develop the potential utility of the clinical pathway as a research and quality assurance tool.
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Arch Pediat Adol Med · Jul 1997
Costs of poison-related hospitalizations at an urban teaching hospital for children.
Childhood poisonings continue to exact a notable toll in injury-related morbidity and economic cost. Because a substantial portion of this morbidity and economic cost is associated with hospitalization, an analysis of the cost of poisoning hospitalizations might help to identify areas in which medical care could be improved and costs could be reduced. ⋯ Despite an increasing number of children hospitalized for poisoning at one institution during a 4-year period, per case hospital charges decreased substantially. The cost savings were associated with a marked decrease in LOS. Still, poison-related admissions to a single pediatric facility accounted for almost $1 million in hospital charges in fiscal year 1995. A few agents are overrepresented; new poisoning prevention measures aimed at these toxic agents are warranted. We conclude that further outcomes studies are needed to delineate cost-effective improvements in patient care targeted toward poisonings owing to those agents.
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Arch Pediat Adol Med · Jul 1997
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialEfficacy of Auralgan for treating ear pain in children with acute otitis media.
To determine the efficacy of Auralgan otic solution (combination product of antipyrine, benzocaine, and glycerin) compared with an olive oil placebo in the management of moderate to severe ear pain in children with acute otitis media (AOM). ⋯ In children with AOM-associated ear pain who are treated with acetaminophen, topically applied Auralgan appears likely to provide additional relief in varying degree within 30 minutes.