COVID-19 impact on the emergency and hospitalization of a tertiary hospital. Management lessons learned

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Emergency Medicine
• Hospital Administration
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted healthcare systems globally.
• Understanding its specific effects on pediatric emergency services is crucial for resource allocation and patient care.
• Previous research has indicated shifts in healthcare utilization during public health crises.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric emergency department visits and hospital admissions.
• To compare pediatric healthcare utilization during the initial pandemic period with pre-pandemic data.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cohort study design was employed.
• Data were collected from a tertiary hospital, comparing March 14 to April 26, 2020, with the same period in the preceding three years.
• Patient demographics, emergency visits, and hospital admission rates were analyzed.

Main Results:

• A significant overall reduction in emergency room visits and hospital admissions across most pediatric areas was observed.
• Care in neonatology and scheduled admissions for oncology patients were maintained.
• Activity levels in pediatric emergencies decreased notably.

Conclusions:

• The observed reduction in pediatric emergency activity during the pandemic is multifactorial, extending beyond a decrease in contagious illnesses.
• Factors such as reduced inappropriate demand and admissions may have contributed to the decline.
• The findings suggest that maintaining pediatric bed availability could prevent the unnecessary reduction of scheduled surgical activities and facilitate resource redistribution during health crises.