Association between Gaps in Care Coordination and Emergency Department Visits Among Children without Chronic...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Healthcare
• Health Services Research
• Public Health

Background:

• Previous research linked care coordination (CC) gaps to increased emergency department (ED) visits in children with special healthcare needs.
• The association between CC gaps and ED visits in children without special needs remains less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• This study investigated whether gaps in care coordination are associated with a higher risk of ED visits among children without special healthcare needs (non-CSHCN).

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional analysis utilized data from the 2018-2019 National Survey of Children's Health.
• Care coordination gaps were defined by proxy reports of poor provider communication or difficulty accessing coordinated care.
• Logistic regression models adjusted for age and sex were employed to assess the association between CC gaps and ED visits.

Main Results:

• 11% of non-CSHCN reported a gap in care coordination, and 17% experienced at least one ED visit.
• A self-reported gap in care coordination was independently associated with a 2.14 times increased odds of ED use among non-CSHCN (AOR: 2.14; 95% CI 1.82, 2.52).

Conclusions:

• Gaps in ambulatory care coordination are linked to increased ED visits, even in children without special healthcare needs presenting with minor illnesses.
• Healthcare providers should prioritize robust care coordination for all children to prevent avoidable ED utilization.
• Ensuring seamless information exchange and accessible coordinated care is crucial for pediatric patient management.