Clinical Report: Does Pediatric Readiness Reduce ED Imaging?

Overview

A study analyzed pediatric emergency department visits to evaluate the impact of pediatric readiness on imaging rates. Findings indicate that while pediatric capability is associated with lower imaging utilization, disparities based on race and insurance status persist.

Background

Pediatric emergency care capability is crucial for ensuring effective treatment of children in emergency settings. Understanding imaging patterns in pediatric patients is essential, as disparities in care can affect outcomes.

Data Highlights

Key Findings

• Pediatric patients with public insurance had lower imaging rates compared to privately insured patients.
• Non-Hispanic Black patients had 17% lower odds of chest radiography compared to non-Hispanic White patients.
• Hospitals with pediatric emergency care coordinators had lower overall imaging rates.
• Increased pediatric capability did not ameliorate disparities in imaging utilization by race and insurance status.
• Imaging rates were 15% lower for chest radiography, 23% lower for head CT, and 41% lower for abdominal CT in publicly insured patients compared to privately insured patients.

Clinical Implications

Clinicians should be aware of disparities in imaging utilization based on race and insurance status.

Conclusion

Further efforts are needed to ensure that improvements in pediatric readiness translate into equitable care for all patients.

Related Resources & Content

1. Samuels-Kalow ME, et al., JAMA Network Open, 2023 -- Does Pediatric Readiness Reduce ED Imaging?
2. JAMA Network Open — Hospital and Emergency Department Pediatric Capability, Patient Characteristics, and Radiology Imaging for
3. The ASCO Post — Reducing Unnecessary and High-dose Pediatric CT Scans Could Cut Future Cancers by More than Half
4. European Radiology — Minimizing Radiation Exposure While Maintaining Image Quality in Pediatric Cardiac Computed Tomography Using Photon-Counting Detectors Without Electrocardiographic Gating in Congenital Heart Disease
5. Pediatric Cardiology — Significant Decrease in Radiation Dose in Three-Dimensional Rotational Angiography Following the Adoption of a Basic Dose Reduction Strategy
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17. Hospital and Emergency Department Pediatric Capability, Patient Characteristics, and Radiology Imaging for Children - PubMed