Characteristics of nonurgent emergency department use in the first 3 months of life.

Objectives: To determine the characteristics of nonurgent emergency department (ED) visits in the first 3 months of life.

Methods: The study cohort consisted of full-term newborns admitted to and discharged from one newborn nursery from September 1, 1992, to May 1, 1994. All visits in the first 90 days of life to one large urban ED were analyzed to determine whether they were nonurgent, based on history of present illness and final diagnosis or disposition.