Articles: hospital-emergency-service.
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Pediatric emergency care · Feb 2022
Racial and Language Disparities in Pediatric Emergency Department Triage.
The aim of this study was to assess the impact race and language have on emergency department (ED) triage scores while accounting for illness severity. We hypothesized that non-White and non-English-speaking patients were assigned lower-acuity triage scores compared with White and English-speaking patients, respectively. ⋯ We confirm that non-White patients receive lower triage scores than White patients. A more robust tool is required to account for illness severity and will be critical to understanding whether the relationship we describe reflects bias within the triage system or differences in ED utilization by racial groups.
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Pediatric emergency care · Feb 2022
Evaluation of Unscheduled Return Visits to the Pediatric Emergency Department and Risk Factors for Admission After Return Visit.
Unscheduled return visits to the emergency department (unscheduled RTED) increase both the workload and overcrowding in the emergency department. The aim in the present study is to identify the patient groups that require more careful and closer follow-up to reduce the rates of unscheduled RTED and hospital admissions after a return visit. ⋯ Unscheduled RTED and hospitalization rates can be reduced with more careful evaluation of young children, patients with respiratory and gastrointestinal complaints and those who apply during emergency department busiest hours.
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Pediatric emergency care · Feb 2022
Low-Resource Emergency Department Visits for Children With Complex Chronic Conditions.
Reducing emergency department (ED) use in children with complex chronic conditions (CCC) is a national health system priority. Emergency department visits with minimal clinical intervention may be the most avoidable. We assessed characteristics associated with experiencing such a low-resource ED visit among children with a CCC. ⋯ Infant age, living close to the ED, and day/evening-time visits were associated with the greatest likelihood of experiencing a low-resource ED visit in children with CCCs. Further investigation is needed to assess key drivers for ED use in these children and identify opportunities for diversion of ED care to outpatient and community settings.