Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2025
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Financing pediatric hospital child abuse teams in 2015: National survey results
Elizabeth Peeler1, Suzanne Dakil1, Paige Culotta2
1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75309, USA.
Insights
Pediatric child maltreatment teams face significant funding gaps, with essential services often unreimbursed by current healthcare models. These vital teams rely on diverse funding sources to support their critical work.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric healthcare economics
- Child abuse and neglect services
- Healthcare financing models
Background:
- Existing economic data for medical child protection teams is limited, with the last surveys conducted in 2008 and 2012.
- Understanding the financial landscape of these teams is crucial for resource allocation and service sustainability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document current financing strategies of medical child maltreatment teams for benchmarking.
- To quantify the value and cost of child abuse services within pediatric hospitals, which are often difficult to measure.
Main Methods:
- A 115-item survey was distributed in 2017 to 230 pediatric hospitals regarding child abuse services provided in 2015.
- Financial aspects including budget, revenue, reimbursement, expenses, research, education, and community partnerships were analyzed using descriptive statistics.
- Trend analysis was performed by comparing current data with previous survey data from 2008 and 2012.
Main Results:
- 113 children's hospitals responded (49% response rate), with 104 providing child abuse services.
- Average team operating budgets increased from $1.15 million in 2008 to $1.4 million in 2015.
- Few clinical services received full reimbursement, and valuable non-clinical services were poorly reimbursed, necessitating an average of 5.45 funding sources.
Conclusions:
- Child maltreatment teams in pediatric hospitals provide essential services that are largely unfunded due to a lack of recognition in current healthcare payment models.
- These specialists undertake critical clinical and non-clinical duties vital for patient care.
- Diverse funding streams are essential for supporting the operational efforts of these crucial teams.
Background:
Data available on the economics of medical child protection teams stems from prior surveys delivered in 2008 and 2012.
Objective:
The objective was to describe the current financing strategies of medical child maltreatment groups for benchmarking purposes. Additionally, we aimed to quantify often difficult to measure child abuse services that provide value to pediatric hospitals.
Participants And Setting:
In 2017, a 115-item survey was distributed to 230 pediatric hospitals inquiring about child abuse services for the 2015 calendar year.
Methods:
The financial topics including budget, revenue, reimbursement, expenses, research, education, and community partnership were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Previous data from similar surveys deployed in 2008 and 2012 were used when applicable to formulate trends.
Results:
One hundred and thirteen children's hospitals responded comprising a response rate of 49 %. One hundred and four hospitals provided child abuse services at some level. Sixty-two programs (26 %) responded to items about budget. Overall, average team operating budgets increased from $1.15 million in 2008 to $1.4 million in 2015. Few clinical services rendered received full reimbursement. Valuable non-clinical services were poorly reimbursed. An average of 5.45 funding sources were used to supplement remunerations.
Conclusion:
Child maltreatment teams within pediatric hospitals provide services that are largely unfunded as they are not currently recognized by healthcare payment models. These specialists perform a variety of clinical and non-clinical responsibilities that are critical to the care of this population while relying on a variety of funding sources to support their efforts.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
01:30Health Information Technology and Healthcare Information System
Health Information Technology, commonly called HIT, integrates advanced information systems and technology in healthcare settings. Its primary functions include:
01:17Healthcare Agencies II
Parish nursing is a growing specialty nursing profession that focuses on holistic healthcare, health promotion, and illness prevention. It blends professional nursing practice with a health ministry, focusing on health and healing within the context of a Christian community. Parish nurses serve as health educators, referral sources,...
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-I
Daycare centers
They provide several functions. Some facilities care for healthy newborns and children whose parents work, while others are medically focused and care for...
01:28Hospitals-I
01:18Introduction To Health Care Delivery System
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) advocates for a patient-centered, effective, safe, timely, equitable, and effective healthcare system. The National Priorities...