National Study of Self-reported Pediatric Areas in United States General Emergency Departments
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: While many U.S. emergency departments (ED) have a "pediatric ED," there are, to our knowledge, no accepted criteria for this type of ED. We investigated the prevalence, distribution, staffing, and characteristics of self-reported pediatric areas in U.S. general EDs.
METHODS: We conducted a survey of all 5,273 U.S. EDs to characterize emergency care in 2015. We then surveyed 130 of the 426 general EDs who reported having a pediatric area. Data collection for the second survey included confirmation of a pediatric area and information on that area's structure and staffing.
RESULTS: The national survey (85% response) showed 10% of general EDs reported a pediatric area. Only 16% of all U.S. EDs had a pediatric emergency care coordinator (PECC). EDs with larger visit volumes, or in the Northeast or South, were more likely to have a pediatric area. Nine states had no general EDs with pediatric areas. Among general EDs with a pediatric area, 75% had a PECC and 74% had a board-certified or board-eligible pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) physician on staff. Ninety-three percent had designated pediatric beds. Rarely (3%) was the pediatric area just a separate waiting area within a general ED, without any PECC or PEM physician present.
CONCLUSIONS: We found that 10% of U.S. general EDs had a pediatric area and that this prevalence varies nationwide. Moreover, only 16% of U.S. EDs had a PECC. Further studies on the impact of ED structure and staffing on pediatric care and…
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