Comparison of Resource Utilization and Length of Hospitalization Between Overweight and Healthy-Weight Pediatric Trauma Patients Presenting to a Pediatric Emergency Department With Moderate to Severe Injury

Background Impact of social distancing on pediatric injuries is unknown. Methods We retrospectively compared injury visits to a pediatric emergency department by individuals ≤21 years during “Stay at Home” (SHO) period to the same period in 2019 (non-SHO). Demographics, types, and outcomes of injuries were noted. Results Although, there was a 35.6% reduction in trauma-related emergency department visits during SHO period (1226 vs 1904), the proportion of injury visits increased (15.5% vs 8.1%, P < .001) and mean age was lower (5.8 yrs ±4.5 vs 8.4 yrs ± 5.2, P < .001). There were significant increases in visits related to child physical abuse (CPA), firearms, and dog bites. Further, significant increases in trauma alerts ( P < .01), injury severity ( P < .01), critical care admissions ( P < .001), and deaths ( P < .01) occurred during the SHO period. Conclusions Although overall trauma-related visits decreased during SHO, the proportion of these visits and their severity increased. Trauma visits related to child physical abuse, dog bites, and firearms increased. Further studies are required to assess the long-term impact of pandemic on pediatric trauma epidemiology.

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Secondhand smoke exposure, illness severity, and resource utilization in pediatric emergency department patients with respiratory illnesses

Journal of Asthma ◽

10.1080/02770903.2016.1265127 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 54 (8) ◽

pp. 798-806 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Ashley L. Merianos ◽

Cinnamon A. Dixon ◽

E. Melinda Mahabee-Gittens

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Resource Utilization ◽

Secondhand Smoke ◽

Pediatric Emergency ◽

Illness Severity ◽

Smoke Exposure ◽

Pediatric Emergency Department ◽

Secondhand Smoke Exposure ◽

Respiratory Illnesses ◽

Emergency Department Patients

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Validation of a Modified Triage Scale in a Norwegian Pediatric Emergency Department

International Journal of Pediatrics ◽

10.1155/2018/4676758 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Mette Engan ◽

Asle Hirth ◽

Håvard Trønnes

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Negative Predictive Value ◽

Resource Utilization ◽

Predictive Value ◽

Intraclass Correlation ◽

Tertiary Hospital ◽

Pediatric Emergency ◽

Interrater Agreement ◽

Pediatric Emergency Department ◽

Sensitivity Specificity

Objective. Triage is a tool developed to identify patients who need immediate care and those who can safely wait. The aim of this study was to assess the validity and interrater reliability of a modified version of the pediatric South African triage scale (pSATS) in a single-center tertiary pediatric emergency department in Norway. Methods. This prospective, observational study included all patients with medical conditions, referred to the pediatric emergency department of a tertiary hospital in Norway from September 1, 2015, to November 17, 2015. Their assigned triage priority was compared with rate of hospitalization and resource utilization. Validity parameters were sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and percentage of over- and undertriage. Interrater agreement and accuracy of the triage ratings were calculated from triage performed by nurses on written case scenarios. Results. During the study period, 1171 patients arrived at the hospital for emergency assessment. A total of 790 patients (67 %) were triaged and included in the study. The percentage of hospital admission increased with increasing level of urgency, from 30 % of the patients triaged to priority green to 81 % of those triaged to priority red. The sensitivity was 74 %, the specificity was 48 %, the positive predictive value was 52 %, and the negative predictive value was 70 % for predicting hospitalization. The level of over- and undertriage was 52 % and 26 %, respectively. Resource utilization correlated with higher triage priority. The interrater agreement had an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.99 by Cronbach’s alpha, and the accuracy was 92 %. Conclusions. The modified pSATS had a moderate sensitivity and specificity but showed good correlation with resource utilization. The nurses demonstrated excellent interrater agreement and accuracy when triaging written case scenarios.

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