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Identifying post-discharge needs in pediatric trauma patients through a standardized follow-up telephone program

Alexandra Chimento1, Morgan L Brown2, Mallory Cash3

  • 1Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.

Journal of Pediatric Surgery
|August 17, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Many pediatric trauma patients have unmet medical, social, and psychological needs post-discharge. Structured follow-up calls effectively identify these needs, improving access to essential resources for recovery.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Trauma Care
  • Healthcare Outcomes
  • Patient Support Services

Background:

  • Pediatric trauma care advances have improved survival rates.
  • Significant unmet medical, social, and psychological needs persist post-discharge.
  • Limited strategies exist to identify these post-discharge needs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize unmet post-discharge needs in pediatric trauma patients.
  • To identify patient groups requiring additional support.
  • To evaluate the utility of structured follow-up calls.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of prospectively collected data from pediatric trauma patients (<18 years).
  • Standardized telephone follow-up calls conducted 30 days post-discharge.
  • Assessment of medical, social, and psychological needs.

Main Results:

  • 57% of patients completed the 30-day follow-up.
  • 27% of reached patients requested further intervention (mental health, appointments, transportation, WIC).
  • Unmet needs were highest in patients attending public/charter schools and those with specific injury types (animal attacks, burns, GSW).

Conclusions:

  • A substantial number of pediatric trauma patients experience unmet needs after discharge.
  • Structured follow-up calls are effective in identifying barriers to recovery.
  • Facilitating access to resources improves outcomes for pediatric trauma patients and families.
Abstract

Keywords:
Follow-upPediatric traumaSocioeconomic barriers

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