Dataset Information

Dedicated Pediatricians in Emergency Department: Shorter Waiting Times and Lower Costs.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Dedicated pediatricians in emergency departments (EDs) may be beneficial, though no previous studies have assessed the related costs and benefits/harms. We aimed to evaluate the net benefits and costs of dedicated emergency pediatricians in a pediatric ED.

Methods

Cost-consequences analysis of visits to a pediatric ED of a tertiary hospital. Two pediatric ED Medical Teams (MT) were compared: MT-A (May-September 2012), with general pediatrics physicians only; and MT-B (May-September 2013), with emergency dedicated pediatricians. The main outcomes analyzed were relevant clinical outcomes, patient throughput time and costs.

Results

We included 8,694 children in MT-A and 9,417 in MT-B. Medication use in the ED increased from 42.3% of the children in MT-A to 49.6% in MT-B; diagnostic tests decreased from 24.2% in MT-A to 14.3% in MT-B. Hospitalization increased from 1.3% in MT-A to 3.0% in MT-B; however, there was no significant difference in diagnosis-related group relative weight of hospitalized children in MT-A and MT-B (MT-A, 0.979; MT-B, 1.075). No differences were observed in ED readmissions or in patients leaving without being seen by a physician. The patient throughput time was significantly shorter in MT-B, with faster times to first medical observation. Within the cost domains analyzed, the total expenditures per children observed in the ED were 16% lower in MT-B: 37.87 euros in MT-A; 31.97 euros in MT-B.

Conclusion

The presence of dedicated emergency pediatricians in a pediatric ED was associated with significantly lower waiting times in the ED, reduced costs, and similar clinical outcomes.

SUBMITTER: Melo MR

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5001635 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Dedicated Pediatricians in Emergency Department: Shorter Waiting Times and Lower Costs.

Melo Manuel Rocha MR Ferreira-Magalhães Manuel M Flor-Lima Filipa F Rodrigues Mariana M Severo Milton M Almeida-Santos Luis L Caldas-Afonso Alberto A Barros Pedro Pita PP Ferreira António A

PloS one 20160826 8

<h4>Background</h4>Dedicated pediatricians in emergency departments (EDs) may be beneficial, though no previous studies have assessed the related costs and benefits/harms. We aimed to evaluate the net benefits and costs of dedicated emergency pediatricians in a pediatric ED.<h4>Methods</h4>Cost-consequences analysis of visits to a pediatric ED of a tertiary hospital. Two pediatric ED Medical Teams (MT) were compared: MT-A (May-September 2012), with general pediatrics physicians only; and MT-B (M ...[more]

PMID: 27564093

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Dataset Information

Dedicated Pediatricians in Emergency Department: Shorter Waiting Times and Lower Costs.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Dedicated Pediatricians in Emergency Department: Shorter Waiting Times and Lower Costs.

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