{"database":"biostudies-literature","file_versions":[],"scores":null,"additional":{"submitter":["Ward CE"],"funding":["NCATS NIH HHS"],"pagination":["347-352"],"full_dataset_link":["https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11096070"],"repository":["biostudies-literature"],"omics_type":["Unknown"],"volume":["40(5)"],"pubmed_abstract":["<h4>Objectives</h4>Many patients transported by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) do not have emergent resource needs. Estimates for the proportion of pediatric EMS calls for low-acuity complaints, and thus potential candidates for alternative dispositions, vary widely and are often based on physician judgment. A more accurate reference standard should include patient assessments, interventions, and dispositions. The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence and characteristics of low-acuity pediatric EMS calls in an urban area.<h4>Methods</h4>This is a prospective observational study of children transported by EMS to a tertiary care pediatric emergency department. Patient acuity was defined using a novel composite measure that included physiologic assessments, resources used, and disposition. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression were conducted to assess for factors associated with low-acuity status.<h4>Results</h4>A total of 996 patients were enrolled, of whom 32.9% (95% confidence interval, 30.0-36.0) were low acuity. Most of the sample was Black, non-Hispanic with a mean age of 7 years. When compared with adolescents, children younger than 1 year were more likely to be low acuity (adjusted odds ratio, 3.1 [1.9-5.1]). Patients in a motor vehicle crash were also more likely to be low acuity (adjusted odds ratio, 2.4 [1.2-4.6]). All other variables, including race, insurance status, chief complaint, and dispatch time, were not associated with low-acuity status.<h4>Conclusions</h4>One third of pediatric patients transported to the pediatric emergency department by EMS in this urban area are for low-acuity complaints. Further research is needed to determine low-acuity rates in other jurisdictions and whether EMS providers can accurately identify low-acuity patients to develop alternative EMS disposition programs for children."],"journal":["Pediatric emergency care"],"pubmed_title":["Prevalence of Low-Acuity Pediatric Emergency Medical Services Transports to a Pediatric Emergency Department in an Urban Area."],"pmcid":["PMC11096070"],"funding_grant_id":["UL1 TR001876"],"pubmed_authors":["Brown KM","Chamberlain JM","Taylor MF","Badolato GM","Simpson JN","Ward CE"],"additional_accession":[]},"is_claimable":false,"name":"Prevalence of Low-Acuity Pediatric Emergency Medical Services Transports to a Pediatric Emergency Department in an Urban Area.","description":"<h4>Objectives</h4>Many patients transported by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) do not have emergent resource needs. Estimates for the proportion of pediatric EMS calls for low-acuity complaints, and thus potential candidates for alternative dispositions, vary widely and are often based on physician judgment. A more accurate reference standard should include patient assessments, interventions, and dispositions. The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence and characteristics of low-acuity pediatric EMS calls in an urban area.<h4>Methods</h4>This is a prospective observational study of children transported by EMS to a tertiary care pediatric emergency department. Patient acuity was defined using a novel composite measure that included physiologic assessments, resources used, and disposition. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression were conducted to assess for factors associated with low-acuity status.<h4>Results</h4>A total of 996 patients were enrolled, of whom 32.9% (95% confidence interval, 30.0-36.0) were low acuity. Most of the sample was Black, non-Hispanic with a mean age of 7 years. When compared with adolescents, children younger than 1 year were more likely to be low acuity (adjusted odds ratio, 3.1 [1.9-5.1]). Patients in a motor vehicle crash were also more likely to be low acuity (adjusted odds ratio, 2.4 [1.2-4.6]). All other variables, including race, insurance status, chief complaint, and dispatch time, were not associated with low-acuity status.<h4>Conclusions</h4>One third of pediatric patients transported to the pediatric emergency department by EMS in this urban area are for low-acuity complaints. Further research is needed to determine low-acuity rates in other jurisdictions and whether EMS providers can accurately identify low-acuity patients to develop alternative EMS disposition programs for children.","dates":{"release":"2024-01-01T00:00:00Z","publication":"2024 May","modification":"2025-07-12T03:06:00.194Z","creation":"2025-07-12T03:06:00.194Z"},"accession":"S-EPMC11096070","cross_references":{"pubmed":["38355133"],"doi":["10.1097/pec.0000000000003131","10.1097/PEC.0000000000003131"]}}