Sd. Berns et al., APPROPRIATE USE OF A PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT - IS THE PEDIATRICIAN CALLED BEFORE THE VISIT, Pediatric emergency care, 10(1), 1994, pp. 13-17
The objective of this study was to examine the appropriateness of util
ization of an urban pediatric emergency department (ED) by children wh
o had a pediatrician and factors relating to whether the pediatrician
was called before an ED visit. This was done prospectively and randoml
y in an urban teaching hospital pediatric ED. One hundred and sixty-si
x patients, 18 years old and younger, who presented for nontraumatic c
onditions and had a pediatrician, classified as private or nonprivate,
were enrolled. A questionnaire was completed and appropriateness of v
isit was determined using previously published criteria. No difference
in appropriateness of visit was found between private and nonprivate
patients (58/98, 40/68, NS). Thirty-five of 54 (65%) parents who calle
d their pediatrician were classified as an appropriate ED visit as opp
osed to 62 of 112 who did not call (55%, NS). Private patients called
their physicians more often then nonprivate patients (P < 0.001). Lack
of access to their primary care providers was the more common reason
among nonprivate patients (P < 0.05) for not calling their pediatricia
ns. We conclude that appropriateness of pediatric ED visits is indepen
dent of type of physician. Nonprivate patients tend to consult their p
hysician less often before ED visits because of access problems.