MEDICAL NECESSITY FOR THE HOSPITALIZATION OF THE ABUSED AND NEGLECTEDCHILD

The child suspected of being abused or neglected demands prompt evalua tion in a protective environment where knowledgeable consultants are r eadily available. In communities without specialized centers for the c are of abused children, the hospital inpatient unit becomes an appropr iate setting for their initial management. Medical, psychosocial, and legal concerns may be assessed expeditiously while the child is housed in a safe haven awaiting final disposition by child protective servic es. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that hospitalization of abused and neglected children, when medically indicated or for the ir protection/diagnosis when there are no specialized facilities in th e community for their care, should be viewed as medically necessary by both health professionals and third-party payers.