Are routine pelvic radiographs in major pediatric blunt trauma necessary?

Background: Screening pelvic radiographs to rule out pelvic fractures are routinely used for the initial evaluation of pediatric blunt trauma. Recently, the utility of routine pelvic radiographs in certain subsets of patients with blunt trauma has been questioned. There is a growing amount of evidence that shows the clinical exam is reliable enough to obviate the need for routine screening pelvic radiographs in children.

"Family plan"--multiple-patient visits from the same family to an inner-city pediatric emergency department.

Objectives: The issue of multiple family members presenting to the emergency department (ED) for care during a single visit is unique to pediatric EDs (PEDs). The epidemiology of such multiple-patient visits (MPVs) has not been well characterized. The aims of this study were to describe patient characteristics, Emergency Severity Index (ESI) triage categories, length of stay, ED disposition, and payer characteristics of such MPV and to compare these characteristics to that of the overall ED visits (OEVs).

Awareness and utilization of emergency medical services by limited English proficient caregivers of pediatric patients.

Background: Previous studies have shown that limited-English-proficient (LEP) patients are less likely to utilize health care services. Objective. To assess the knowledge and perceived barriers to utilization of emergency medical services (EMS) by LEP caregivers of children served by an urban EMS system.

Bioterrorism: Evaluating the preparedness of pediatricians in Michigan.

Objective: There is a paucity of literature in the United States regarding preparedness for a bioterrorist attack on children. The main objective of this study was to assess the self-reported level of bioterrorism preparedness of pediatricians practicing in Michigan.

Methods: We conducted a survey that was mailed to 1000 pediatricians practicing in Michigan from July through December 2006.

Patient and family-centred care for pediatric patients in the emergency department.

Patient and family-centred care (PFCC) is an approach to health care that recognizes the integral role of the family and encourages mutually beneficial collaboration between the patient, family and health care professionals. Specific to the pediatric population, the literature indicates that the majority of families wish to be present for all aspects of their child's care and be involved in medical decision-making. Families who are provided with PFCC are more satisfied with their care.

Epidemiology of pediatric transports and non-transports in an urban Emergency Medical Services system.

Objective: This study was done to describe an urban, Emergency Medical Service (EMS) system's experiences with pediatric patients and the rate and characteristics of non-transports in this setting.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of all pediatric patients responded to by the Detroit Fire Department Division of EMS between January 1, 2002 and August 30, 2002 was done.

Results: There were 5,976 pediatric EMS cases.

Evaluation of a child guidance model for visits for mental disorders to an inner-city pediatric emergency department.

Background: To address a rising trend of emergency department (ED) visits for mental disorders (VMD), our ED implemented a child guidance model for their efficient evaluation and disposition.

Objectives: The main objective of our study was to evaluate the impact of the child guidance model on the ED length of stay (LOS) and ED costs on children with VMD.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart analysis on 1031 VMD visits made to an inner-city tertiary care pediatric ED in 2002 (1.

The death of a child in the emergency department.

The death of a child in the emergency department (ED) is often overwhelming to the child's community, including the health care providers involved in that child's care. Sudden death, especially of a child, induces a strong emotional response in health care providers and in the families involved. Advanced preparation by emergency staff is vital to appropriately care for the patient, the grieving family, and the ED staff.

Injury prevention and control in children.

Injury is the number one cause of death and life-years lost for children. In children, injury mortality is greater than childhood mortality from all other causes combined. Modern injury prevention and control seeks to prevent and limit or control injuries through the 4 Es of injury prevention: engineering, enforcement, education, and economics.

Use of Emergency Medical Service transport system in medical patients up to 36 months of age.

Objectives: To determine the frequency of inappropriate transport by Emergency Medical Service (EMS).

Design: A retrospective study.

Subjects: Patients up to 36 months of age with medical complaints transported by EMS to an urban pediatric emergency department (ED).

Occult cocaine exposure in children.

We determined the prevalence of cocaine and cannabinoid exposure among young children presenting to an urban pediatric emergency department without signs or symptoms suggestive of the exposure. The study included 460 children between 1 and 60 months of age in whom urinalysis was required for investigation of routine pediatric complaints. Anonymously and without informed consent, an aliquot of urine was screened for cocaine metabolite (benzoylecgonine) and 11- or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9 carboxylic acid with the enzyme multiplied immunoassay technique.