Michael Bennett1, Claudio Dalla Vecchia1, Carol Blackburn1,2, Sean Walsh1,2, Michael J Barrett3,4,5. 1. Department of Emergency Medicine, Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland. 2. School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. 3. Department of Emergency Medicine, Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland. Michael.Barrett@olchc.ie. 4. School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. Michael.Barrett@olchc.ie. 5. National Children's Research Centre, Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland. Michael.Barrett@olchc.ie.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In Ireland, the paediatric emergency department (PED) is tasked with acute healthcare provision to children and adolescents under 16 years of age. The population > 15 years attending the PED remains undescribed. AIMS: The objective of the study is to describe the presentations of patients > 15 years to the PED of a national tertiary academic paediatric hospital. METHODS: A retrospective review of electronic records identifying all patients (> 15 years) who presented from January 2014 to December 2015. Patient demographics, presenting complaint, diagnosis, treatment and disposition were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 71,082 patients attended during the study period; of whom, 426 (0.6%) patients were aged 16 to 61 years. Over half were identified as having clearly defined chronic complex conditions. Three hundred and forty-five (89%) patients were known to the hospital paediatric services and under the care of specialist with 131 (34%) patients admitted locally, all of whom had chronic complex conditions (CCC). There was a total of 44 (11%) patients who presented to the PED with de novo issues and had a variety of acute presenting complaints with minor injuries, syncope and chest pain being most common. CONCLUSION: This is the first Irish study demonstrating a significant population (> 15 years) with medical complexity that requires a suite of services in a paediatric hospital which is accessed in an unscheduled manner through an emergency department. We recommend further research to describe paediatric CCC attending Irish emergency and hospital services.
BACKGROUND: In Ireland, the paediatric emergency department (PED) is tasked with acute healthcare provision to children and adolescents under 16 years of age. The population > 15 years attending the PED remains undescribed. AIMS: The objective of the study is to describe the presentations of patients > 15 years to the PED of a national tertiary academic paediatric hospital. METHODS: A retrospective review of electronic records identifying all patients (> 15 years) who presented from January 2014 to December 2015. Patient demographics, presenting complaint, diagnosis, treatment and disposition were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 71,082 patients attended during the study period; of whom, 426 (0.6%) patients were aged 16 to 61 years. Over half were identified as having clearly defined chronic complex conditions. Three hundred and forty-five (89%) patients were known to the hospital paediatric services and under the care of specialist with 131 (34%) patients admitted locally, all of whom had chronic complex conditions (CCC). There was a total of 44 (11%) patients who presented to the PED with de novo issues and had a variety of acute presenting complaints with minor injuries, syncope and chest pain being most common. CONCLUSION: This is the first Irish study demonstrating a significant population (> 15 years) with medical complexity that requires a suite of services in a paediatric hospital which is accessed in an unscheduled manner through an emergency department. We recommend further research to describe paediatric CCC attending Irish emergency and hospital services.
Entities:
Keywords:
Chronic complex conditions; Emergency services; Paediatric emergency medicine
Authors: Thérèse McDonnell; Emma Nicholson; Ciara Conlon; Michael Barrett; Fergal Cummins; Conor Hensey; Eilish McAuliffe Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-09-15 Impact factor: 3.390