Evaluation of Using Pediatric Emergency Rooms

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The overload of pediatric emergency units around the world has become an increasing problem for patients and health care professionals alike. Researching the features of pediatric emergency services will provide the necessary information for creating an effective emergency medical system, increasing patient satisfaction, and reducing the treatment costs. In this study; we aimed to check the admissions in pediatric emergency rooms, evaluate the effectiveness of emergency service, and develop suitable strategies to increase the amount and quality of medical service given in pediatric emergency rooms. METHODS: In this retrospective study, the records of 296,858 (51.2% female, 48.8% male) patient admissions in the emergency rooms and 384,171 (46.3% female, 53.7% male) admissions in the outpatient clinics of eight hospitals between January 2015 and June 2015 were scanned. Out of these hospitals, two facilities were research and training hospitals. RESULTS: The average age of patients who were admitted to the emergency room was 89.1 (±21.3) months and the average age of patients admitted to the outpatient clinics was 87.2 (±18.7) months. Upper respiratory tract infection was the most frequent (44.23%) diagnosis in the emergency rooms and most of these infected patients (63.67%) had been admitted to the two training and research hospitals that provide an advanced level of health care. Also, the patient requests for diagnosis were determined to be significantly high in emergency rooms. CONCLUSION: Proper understanding of the scope of emergency services is very important in order to provide fast and effective healthcare to the patients who get admitted to emergency rooms and maintain appropriate and judicious use of the resources of emergency rooms.

Characteristics of pediatric emergency patients in a Turkish tertiary-level hospital: A 1-year cross-sectional study

“…33,34 In 2015, 30 million PED visits were reported in the United States, and children younger than 5 years accounted for more than 40% of them. 35 In Turkey, Temizkan et al 20 and Cag et al 36 reported that the admission rate of children under 5 years was 36% and 69%, respectively. Considering the distribution of admissions by age groups, Karakas et al 34 reported that the most common admission was in 1 month-6 years of age group (66%).…”

“…In addition, it was demonstrated that the frequency of upper respiratory tract infection increased in the winter months, and trauma cases increased in the spring and summer months. 20,25,36 In a systematic review, it was reported that the frequency of ED admission was highest in spring and lowest in winter. 25 However, the seasonal variations in childhood diseases, as opposed to adult diseases, might affect the admission diagnosis in pediatric patients.…”

“…18,19 In Turkey, as in other countries, PEDs are the only healthcare settings that provide 24 h service to pediatric patients. 25,36 In addition to the impossibility of receiving healthcare on weekends and holidays, and within out of hours, parents seeking fast and effective healthcare for their children lead to overcrowding of these units. 18,36 The very high numbers of non-urgent admissions to EDs, most of whom can be treated in primary care or outpatient clinics, and the huge amount of discharged patients after initial basic management, address the fact that these units are used for reasons other than clinical situations that require emergency health care.…”

An analysis of the diagnoses and costs of pediatric emergency care visits: a single center study

“…The reasons why children are admitted to emergency care units are very similar around the world. Upper respiratory tract infections and other concerns within the respiratory system, [ 2 , 11 , 12 ] as well as injuries or trauma [ 1 , 13 , 14 ] have been identified as the most common reasons for pediatric emergency care in multiple descriptive studies. Other common reasons include gastrointestinal tract problems and general symptoms, such as fever [ 1 , 2 , 11 – 14 ].…”

“…Upper respiratory tract infections and other concerns within the respiratory system, [ 2 , 11 , 12 ] as well as injuries or trauma [ 1 , 13 , 14 ] have been identified as the most common reasons for pediatric emergency care in multiple descriptive studies. Other common reasons include gastrointestinal tract problems and general symptoms, such as fever [ 1 , 2 , 11 – 14 ]. Fever on its own was discovered to be behind 24% of pediatric emergency care visits in Switzerland during the winter months [ 15 ].…”