Background: The COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected children's mental health (MH) and changed patterns of MH emergency department (ED) utilization. Our objective was to assess how pediatric MH ED visits during the COVID-19 pandemic differed from expected prepandemic trends.
Methods: We retrospectively studied MH ED visits by children 5 to <18 years old at nine U.
Importance: Health care disparities are well-documented among children based on race, ethnicity, and language for care. An agenda that outlines research priorities for disparities in pediatric emergency care (PEC) is lacking.
Objective: To investigate research priorities for disparities in PEC among medical personnel, researchers, and health care-affiliated community organizations.
We conducted a survey study of clinical research coordinators (CRCs) at the member institutions of the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network, to determine the demographic and linguistic characteristics of CRCs around the network, and any perceived impact of those characteristics on their duties. A total of 53/74 CRCs completed the survey. Most respondents identified as "female," "white," and "not Hispanic/Latino.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the significance of readily available and easily performed viral testing for surveillance during future infectious pandemics. The objectives of this study were: to assess the performance of the Xpert Xpress Flu and/or RSV test, a multiplex PCR assay for detecting influenza A and B virus and respiratory syncytial virus nucleic acids in respiratory tract specimens, relative to the Quidel Lyra Influenza A+B assay and the Prodesse ProFlu+ assay, and the system's ease of use by minimally trained operators. Overall, the Xpert Xpress Flu/RSV test demonstrated a high positive and negative percent agreement with the comparator assays, and was easy to use and interpret results, based on the operators' feedback.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Sepsis is the most common cause of mortality in sickle cell disease (SCD). Empiric antibiotic administration after obtaining blood cultures in febrile children with SCD has been a standard practice parameter.
Objective: Our primary objective was to calculate the rate of bacteremia in febrile pediatric patients with SCD.
Objectives: Our primary objective was to investigate whether urine drug screen (UDS) results affected the medical management of pediatric psychiatric patients presenting to the pediatric emergency department (ED) for psychiatric evaluation and whether it affected the final disposition of these patients.
Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of patients who presented to an urban pediatric ED in Newark, NJ, with psychiatric or behavior problems for medical clearance before psychiatric evaluation between June 3, 2008, and June 3, 2009. Inclusion criteria were any patient between the ages of 0 to 20 years who presented to the pediatric ED and had a UDS performed.