OBJECTIVE: To compare pediatric mental health emergency department visits to other pediatric emergency department visits, focusing on length of stay. METHOD: We analyzed data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, a nationally representative sample of US emergency department visits from 2001 to 2008, for patients aged ≤18 years (n = 73,015). Visits with a principal diagnosis of a mental disorder (n = 1,476) were compared to visits (n = 71,539) with regard to patient and hospital characteristics, treatment, and length of stay. Predictors of prolonged mental health visits were identified. RESULTS: Mental health visits were more likely than other visits to arrive by ambulance (21.8% versus 6.3%, p < .001), to be triaged to rapid evaluation (27.9% versus 14.9%, p < .001), and to be admitted (16.4% versus 7.6%, p < .001) or transferred (15.7% versus 1.5%, p < .001). The median length of stay for mental health visits (169 minutes) significantly exceeded that of other visits (108 minutes). The odds of extended stay beyond 4 hours for mental health visits was almost twice that for other visits (adjusted odds ratio 1.9, 95% CI = 1.5-2.4) and was not explained by observed differences in evaluation, treatment, or disposition. Among mental health visits, advancing calendar year of study, intentional self-injury, age 6-13 years, Northeastern, Southern, and metropolitan hospital location, use of laboratory studies, and patient transfer all predicted extended stays. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with other pediatric emergency visits, mental health visits are longer, are more frequently triaged to urgent evaluation, and more likely to result in patient admission or transfer, thereby placing distinctive burdens on US emergency departments.
OBJECTIVE: To compare pediatric mental health emergency department visits to other pediatric emergency department visits, focusing on length of stay. METHOD: We analyzed data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, a nationally representative sample of US emergency department visits from 2001 to 2008, for patients aged ≤18 years (n = 73,015). Visits with a principal diagnosis of a mental disorder (n = 1,476) were compared to visits (n = 71,539) with regard to patient and hospital characteristics, treatment, and length of stay. Predictors of prolonged mental health visits were identified. RESULTS: Mental health visits were more likely than other visits to arrive by ambulance (21.8% versus 6.3%, p < .001), to be triaged to rapid evaluation (27.9% versus 14.9%, p < .001), and to be admitted (16.4% versus 7.6%, p < .001) or transferred (15.7% versus 1.5%, p < .001). The median length of stay for mental health visits (169 minutes) significantly exceeded that of other visits (108 minutes). The odds of extended stay beyond 4 hours for mental health visits was almost twice that for other visits (adjusted odds ratio 1.9, 95% CI = 1.5-2.4) and was not explained by observed differences in evaluation, treatment, or disposition. Among mental health visits, advancing calendar year of study, intentional self-injury, age 6-13 years, Northeastern, Southern, and metropolitan hospital location, use of laboratory studies, and patient transfer all predicted extended stays. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with other pediatric emergency visits, mental health visits are longer, are more frequently triaged to urgent evaluation, and more likely to result in patient admission or transfer, thereby placing distinctive burdens on US emergency departments.
Authors: Prashant Mahajan; Elizabeth R Alpern; Jackie Grupp-Phelan; James Chamberlain; Lydia Dong; Richard Holubkov; Elizabeth Jacobs; Rachel Stanley; Michael Tunik; Meridith Sonnett; Steve Miller; George L Foltin Journal: Pediatr Emerg Care Date: 2009-11 Impact factor: 1.454
Authors: Jahan Fahimi; Adrian Aurrecoechea; Erik Anderson; Andrew Herring; Harrison Alter Journal: Pediatr Emerg Care Date: 2015-05 Impact factor: 1.454
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Authors: Gretchen J Cutler; Jonathan Rodean; Bonnie T Zima; Stephanie K Doupnik; Alicia L Zagel; Kelly R Bergmann; Jennifer A Hoffmann; Mark I Neuman Journal: Acad Pediatr Date: 2019-06-05 Impact factor: 3.107