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Urban emergency department utilization by adolescents
D D Grove1, R Lazebnik, E M Petrack
1Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.
Clinical Pediatrics
|August 29, 2000
Summary
Urban adolescents frequently use emergency departments (EDs) for nonurgent issues, particularly those with public assistance or no insurance. Many are not referred for follow-up care, highlighting a need for improved adolescent healthcare resources.
Area of Science:
- Adolescent Health
- Emergency Medicine
- Healthcare Utilization
Background:
- Urban emergency departments (EDs) serve a critical role in adolescent healthcare.
- Understanding patterns of ED use and follow-up care is essential for improving health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe emergency department (ED) utilization and follow-up referral patterns among adolescents aged 14-19.
- To identify characteristics of adolescents using urban EDs and their referral practices.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of ED visits for adolescents (14-19 years) at an urban university hospital.
- Random selection of 150 patients for detailed chart review.
- Analysis of insurance status, triage codes, and follow-up referrals.
Main Results:
- 1,636 adolescents visited the ED; 47% had public assistance, 29% commercial insurance, 22% self-pay.
- The majority of ED visits (93%) were for nonurgent medical problems.
- 17% of patients were not referred for follow-up care upon discharge.
Conclusions:
- Adolescents, especially those with public assistance or lacking insurance, frequently use urban EDs for nonurgent care.
- A significant gap exists in follow-up referrals for some adolescent ED patients.
- Tailoring community resources based on adolescent ED utilization patterns is recommended.