@article{7797ed178bb04f39b567169c23a7ad80,
title = "Pediatric conditions requiring interfacility transport from emergency departments: A statewide study of regionalization",
abstract = "Objectives Pediatric care is increasingly regionalized, increasing rates of interfacility transport (IFT). However, it is unknown what conditions most frequently require IFT. This study's objective was to identify high-frequency pediatric conditions requiring IFT. Methods This is a statewide retrospective observational study from 2010 to 2012 of pediatric patients (<18 years of age) who underwent IFT in Maryland. Patients were identified from the Health Care Utilization Project's database using probabilistic linkage. This study identified the 20 most common pediatric IFT conditions, and the conditions with the highest IFT rates. Results Probabilistic linkage was successful for 2254 records. The largest age category was 0 to 4 years (43%). The top 3 IFT conditions were asthma (13.5%), epilepsy (8.5%), and diabetes mellitus (6.6%). Diabetes mellitus had the highest IFT rate (24%), followed by appendicitis (15.5%) and internal obstruction (14.4%). Conclusions Specific pediatric conditions commonly require IFT and had high IFT rates in this statewide study. In addition, the largest age group undergoing IFT was young children (0 to 4 years of age). This study provides specific detail regarding conditions and ages impacted by IFT, and emergency medical services should consider incorporating these findings into transport destination algorithms. In addition, public health stakeholders should address implications of the concentration of care for these common pediatric conditions and younger age groups. ",
keywords = "Asthma, Diabetes mellitus, Interfacility transport, Regionalization",
author = "Ali Aledhaim and Fishe, {Jennifer N.} and Hirshon, {Jon Mark} and Anders, {Jennifer F.}",
note = "Funding Information: From the *Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; †Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine–Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL; and ‡Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Disclosure: The authors declare no conflict of interest. Funding Source: This study was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Emergency Medical Services for Children's Targeted Issues Grant Program (H34MC30232). The information, content, and conclusions are those of the authors and should not be construed as the official position, policy, or endorsement by Health Resources and Services Administration, the US Department of Health and Human Services, or the US government. Meetings: Results of this study were presented in part as an oral presentation at the American Academy of Pediatrics Conference on September 17, 2017, in Chicago, IL, and as a poster presentation at the National Association of EMS Physicians Conference on January 12, 2018, in San Diego, CA. Reprints: Jennifer N. Fishe, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine–Jacksonville, 655 West 8th St, Jacksonville, FL 32205 (e‐mail: Jennifer.Fishe@jax.ufl.edu). Supplemental digital content is available for this article. Direct URL citations appear in the printed text and are provided in the HTML and PDF versions of this article on the journal{\textquoteright}s Web site (www.pec-online.com). Copyright {\textcopyright} 2018 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved. ISSN: 0749-5161 Funding Information: This study was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Emergency Medical Services for Children's Targeted Issues Grant Program (H34MC30232). The information, content, and conclusions are those of the authors and should not be construed as the official position, policy, or endorsement by Health Resources and Services Administration, the US Department of Health and Human Services, or the US government. Meetings: Results of this study were presented in part as an oral presentation at the AmericanAcademy of Pediatrics Conference on September 17, 2017, in Chicago, IL, and as a poster presentation at the National Association of EMS Physicians Conference on January 12, 2018, in San Diego, CA. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.",
year = "2021",
doi = "10.1097/PEC.0000000000001578",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "37",
pages = "E319--E323",
journal = "Pediatric emergency care",
issn = "0749-5161",
publisher = "Lippincott Williams and Wilkins",
number = "6",
}