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Return visits to a pediatric emergency department.
Evaline A Alessandrini1, Jane M Lavelle, Stephanie M Grenfell
1Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA.
Pediatric Emergency Care
|April 20, 2004
Summary
The return visit (RV) rate in pediatric emergency departments (EDs) is 3.5%, similar to general EDs. Younger children and those admitted were more likely to have an RV, suggesting areas for quality improvement.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Healthcare Quality Improvement
- Patient Outcomes
Background:
- Return visits (RVs) to emergency departments (EDs) are a key indicator of healthcare quality.
- Understanding RV patterns in pediatric populations is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence, types, and associated factors of return visits (RVs) to a pediatric emergency department (ED).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of patients in an urban, tertiary care pediatric ED.
- Analysis of a computerized log to identify RVs within 48 hours.
- Comparison of RV patient demographics and triage status with the overall ED population.
Main Results:
- The overall pediatric ED RV rate was 3.5%, comparable to general EDs.
- Infectious disease, respiratory issues, and trauma were the most common diagnoses for RVs.
- Patients younger than 2 years, those admitted, and those triaged as acute were more likely to have an RV.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric ED RV rates are comparable to general EDs, allowing for benchmarking and quality improvement.
- Implementing systems for proactive patient callbacks may reduce medical errors and improve outcomes.