Study: Parents bring kids to ER because of concern with care from PCP
Patient Safety Monitor Alert, December 3, 2008
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Although they are not trying to abuse the emergency room system, many parents do so as a byproduct of wanting the best care for their children. A new study published in the journal American Pediatrics shows that between 1994 and 2004, emergency room (ER) usage rose 18%, with children accounting for 25% of overall ER use, reports The Washington Post. Many of these visits were for nonurgent care, says the article, for the following reasons:
- Problems with child's primary care provider (PCP)—These included long wait times, negative attitudes, lack of efficiency
- Referral to ER by PCP
- Advantage of advanced care in ER
The study was conducted at a children's hospital, which may have an effect on the results. However, the authors of the study said that if PCPs were to have more flexible hours for acute care incidences, as well as provide direction to patient's parents on how to care for more simple health problems without visiting an ER, the incidence of parents taking their children to ERs for health problems would be reduced.
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