Pediatric ED Utilization in a Destination City: Demographic, Clinical, and Temporal Trends

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Emergency Medicine
• Public Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Seasonal variations in pediatric emergency department (ED) visits are documented for various conditions.
• Geographic location's influence on pediatric ED presentation timing and reasons remains understudied.
• Coastal destination cities present unique challenges for pediatric ED resource allocation due to diverse patient populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze demographic and clinical characteristics of pediatric ED patients.
• To compare seasonal variations in visits among local, in-state nonlocal, and out-of-state patient groups.
• To identify distinct patterns of pediatric emergency care utilization based on geographic origin.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of pediatric ED visits from June 2014 to June 2019.
• Categorization of patients into local, in-state nonlocal, and out-of-state groups based on home address.
• Analysis of demographic data, clinical information, and visit timing (week of the year).

Main Results:

• Local patients comprised over 90% of visits, with seasonal peaks from October to April.
• Out-of-state visitors showed significant utilization peaks during summer, holidays, and Spring Break.
• In-state nonlocals had higher acuity, more diagnostic tests, higher admission rates, and more psychiatric complaints compared to locals.

Conclusions:

• Distinct patterns of pediatric emergency department utilization exist for local, in-state nonlocal, and out-of-state patients.
• Understanding these utilization trends is crucial for optimizing hospital resource allocation and patient follow-up.
• Specific attention to out-of-state patient populations may be necessary for effective healthcare planning.