"Family plan"--multiple-patient visits from the same family to an inner-city pediatric emergency department.

OBJECTIVES: The issue of multiple family members presenting to the emergency department (ED) for care during a single visit is unique to pediatric EDs (PEDs). The epidemiology of such multiple-patient visits (MPVs) has not been well characterized. The aims of this study were to describe patient characteristics, Emergency Severity Index (ESI) triage categories, length of stay, ED disposition, and payer characteristics of such MPV and to compare these characteristics to that of the overall ED visits (OEVs). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of MPVs to an inner-city PED from June to December 2006. We collected patient demographics, ESI triage categories, ED disposition, length of stay, and payer characteristics. Descriptive methods and comparative methods were used to summarize the sample characteristics and compare group differences, respectively. RESULTS: Multiple-patient visit constituted 2.2% (1166/52,491) of the total ED visits with a total of 2511 patients. The majority (88%; 1025/1166) of such visits were with 2 patients in a family. Ninety-one percent (2285/2511) of patients presented for medical complaints. Compared with the OEV, MPV belonged significantly more to ESI triage category 5 (51.2% vs 28.6%) and less to ESI triage category 3 (10.0% vs 24.6%; χ(2) = 775.4; P < 0.01). A significantly higher percentage of MPV patients belonged to Medicaid Health Maintenance Organization compared with the OEV patients (72.4% vs 47.6%; P < 0.01). Only 3.3% of MPV patients required hospital admission. CONCLUSIONS: In our inner-city PED, most of the MPVs are for medical complaints, belong to a lower acuity, and have a low hospital admission rate.

Awareness and utilization of emergency medical services by limited English proficient caregivers of pediatric patients.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that limited-English-proficient (LEP) patients are less likely to utilize health care services. Objective. To assess the knowledge and perceived barriers to utilization of emergency medical services (EMS) by LEP caregivers of children served by an urban EMS system. METHODS: We prospectively surveyed a convenience sample of caregivers of children presenting to the emergency department (ED) from January to December 2008. Caregivers were identified as LEP using their response to the U.S. Census question ;;How well do you speak English?'' Caregivers were assigned to one of three cohorts: 1) LEP Spanish- and Arabic-speaking caregivers (n = 50), 2) proficient-in-English (PE) Spanish- and Arabic-speaking caregivers (n = 50), and (3) native English-speaking (NES) caregivers (n = 100). We collected data on EMS awareness and perceived barriers to EMS utilization using a written survey administered in the caregivers' preferred language (English, Spanish, or Arabic). We used descriptive methods to summarize sample characteristics and comparative methods (chi-square test, analysis of variance [ANOVA], and t-test) to compare group differences. RESULTS: There were no differences in the patient age groups, triage categories, caregiver age, and payer status among the three groups. The LEP caregivers were less aware of EMS (93% NES vs. 94% PE vs. 60% LEP; p < 0.01) and had called EMS significantly fewer times when compared with the NES and PE groups (16% LEP vs. 58% NES vs. 48% PE; p < 0.01). Fourteen percent of the LEP caregivers were unaware of the telephone number to call for EMS. Concerns about inability to communicate with the operator and cost were cited by the LEP caregivers as the main barriers to EMS utilization. CONCLUSIONS: Caregivers with limited English proficiency are less aware of and are less likely to utilize EMS for their children. Barriers to utilization include concerns of cost and communication with the operator.

Bioterrorism: Evaluating the preparedness of pediatricians in Michigan.

OBJECTIVE: There is a paucity of literature in the United States regarding preparedness for a bioterrorist attack on children. The main objective of this study was to assess the self-reported level of bioterrorism preparedness of pediatricians practicing in Michigan. METHODS: We conducted a survey that was mailed to 1000 pediatricians practicing in Michigan from July through December 2006. Survey questions were designed to evaluate the overall level of preparedness, as defined by the American Academy of Pediatrics, in dealing with a possible biological event and to describe key demographic variables. RESULTS: Of the 590 pediatricians who responded (59%), a majority (80%) were general pediatricians, whereas 20% were pediatric subspecialists. Sixty percent of responders believe terrorism is a threat, with biological agents (52%; 95% confidence interval (CI), 48.00-56.12) as the most likely cause of an event. Half of the pediatricians who responded had a workplace disaster plan, but only 12% feel their preparedness for a biological attack/event was good. Sixty-six percent (392/590) were not currently Pediatric Advanced Life Support certified, 38% (95% CI,34.63-42.51) have never attended a lecture based on bioterrorism, 85% (95% CI, 82.00-87.78) have never participated in a bioterrorism training exercise, and 89% (95% CI, 87.00-91.95) do not provide disaster-oriented anticipatory guidance to their patients. Seventy-six percent (95% CI, 73.10-79.98) of all responders indicated their desire for more bioterrorism training, with 42% preferring diagnostic algorithms and 37% (95% CI, 32.79-40.59) preferring a prepared lecture on video format. CONCLUSIONS: Surveyed pediatricians in Michigan consider bioterrorism a significant threat but are overwhelmingly underprepared to deal with an event. There is a perceived need for a coordinated educational program to improve level of preparedness.

Epidemiology of pediatric transports and non-transports in an urban Emergency Medical Services system.

OBJECTIVE: This study was done to describe an urban, Emergency Medical Service (EMS) system's experiences with pediatric patients and the rate and characteristics of non-transports in this setting. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all pediatric patients responded to by the Detroit Fire Department Division of EMS between January 1, 2002 and August 30, 2002 was done. RESULTS: There were 5,976 pediatric EMS cases. Children 10 years of age or older accounted for 49.4% of transports, 53.8% of all patients had medical illness, and 38.8% of the patients belonged to the non-urgent category. A large percentage of patients were not transported (27.2%), most commonly secondary to parent/caregiver/patient refusals. The median number of minutes on-scene for refusals was longer than for transports (23.5 vs. 17.3, respectively)[difference = 6.2 minutes (95% CI: 5.6-6.9)]. The odds ratios (OR) for refusal was highest for assaults (2.09; 95% CI: 1.66-2.63), difficulty in breathing (1.38; 95% CI: 1.14-1.68), and motor vehicle accidents (1.19; 95% CI: 1.04-1.37). CONCLUSIONS: In this system, the majority of pediatric patients are not severely ill, and a large number are not transported. Non-transports are more likely to be young adolescents, have been involved in assaults, and have a longer on-scene time.

Evaluation of a child guidance model for visits for mental disorders to an inner-city pediatric emergency department.

BACKGROUND: To address a rising trend of emergency department (ED) visits for mental disorders (VMD), our ED implemented a child guidance model for their efficient evaluation and disposition. OBJECTIVES: The main objective of our study was to evaluate the impact of the child guidance model on the ED length of stay (LOS) and ED costs on children with VMD. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart analysis on 1031 VMD visits made to an inner-city tertiary care pediatric ED in 2002 (1.4% of the total 2002 ED visits). We collected demographic and LOS information on all VMD visits. The child guidance model was implemented June 2002, after which we divided the VMD cases into 2 groups based on the presence or absence of the model. We performed a cost analysis to assess the impact of the model on LOS and determined the opportunity costs of prolonged LOS of the VMD visits as compared with 500 non-VMD visits. RESULTS: The average LOS of VMD visits was longer than that of the 500 non-VMD visits (236.04 minutes +/- 162.82 vs. 134.69 minutes +/- 95.19; mean difference, 101.34 minutes; P = 0.001). The LOS was significantly reduced after the model was implemented (259.49 minutes +/- 171.12 vs. 216.39 +/- 152.95 minutes, P = 0.00). The lost revenue due to extended VMD LOS was calculated as opportunity costs of $201,173.30, whereas the cost savings during the study period due to reduced LOS after the model was implemented was $10,651. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that children with VMD visits contribute a substantial resource burden in the ED, and focused interventions such as the child guidance model in the ED can significantly decrease LOS and reduce ED costs.

The death of a child in the emergency department.

The death of a child in the emergency department (ED) is often overwhelming to the child's community, including the health care providers involved in that child's care. Sudden death, especially of a child, induces a strong emotional response in health care providers and in the families involved. Advanced preparation by emergency staff is vital to appropriately care for the patient, the grieving family, and the ED staff. The American College of Emergency Physicians and the American Academy of Pediatrics have jointly adopted a policy statement entitled "Death of a Child in the Emergency Department Joint Statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Emergency Physicians." The purpose of this article is to provide the emergency physician with information related to the management of children and their families who die in the ED. The following important issues will be discussed: a family and team-centered approach when a child dies, support for families and communities, communication within the child's medical home, identification of resources for use when a child dies, and critical incident stress management.