A Contemporary Review on Health Care Disparities in Pediatric Ambulatory Anesthesia

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Healthcare
• Surgical Outcomes
• Health Equity

Background:

• Existing research on pediatric perioperative disparities primarily focuses on inpatient settings.
• Health care inequities can emerge across all phases of care in the ambulatory surgery environment.
• Disparities impact diverse patient groups, including those based on race/ethnicity, location, language, and insurance status.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and highlight health care disparities in the pediatric perioperative period within the ambulatory surgery setting.
• To identify specific inequities faced by pediatric patients in outpatient surgical care.
• To explore strategies for mitigating these disparities and suggest future systemic improvements.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of contemporary literature on pediatric perioperative care.
• Analysis of disparities related to patient demographics and access to services.
• Identification of current and potential strategies for addressing inequities.

Main Results:

• Health care disparities are prevalent in pediatric ambulatory surgery, affecting preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases.
• Key factors contributing to disparities include race/ethnicity, geographic location, language barriers, and insurance status.
• Inequitable utilization of perioperative services is a significant concern.

Conclusions:

• Careful patient selection and facility accreditation are crucial for mitigating disparities in ambulatory settings.
• Increasing the number of fellowship-trained pediatric anesthesiologists can improve care equity.
• System-level changes are necessary to promote equitable perioperative care for all pediatric patients in outpatient settings.