All issues > Volume 32(7); 1989

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1989;32(7):897-914. Published online July 31, 1989.

Utilization Patterns of Pediatric Emergency Room.

Hann Tchah¹, Dork Ro Yun²

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Seoul National University
²Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University

Received: November 28, 1988;  Accepted: December 12, 1988.

Abstract

The utilization of pediatric emergency services has increased rapidly in recent years with general recognition of its funtion. The authors reviewed 11,089 patients visiting emergency room of Seoul National University Children’s Hospital during last two years from Jan. 1st 1986 to Dec. 31st 1987. The findings obtained were as follows: 1) There were 5,110 visits in 1986 and 5,979 visits in 1987. First visit was 57.1% of total visits and 21.4% of total patients were between 1 and 3 years of age while 66.5% were below 6 years of age. Male patients were predominant by a ratio of 1.7:1. 2) The number of visits to emergency room increased especially in May and N ovember, and decreased during wintertime. The peak day of visits was Sunday and the peak time of visits of total patients was between noon and 4:00 PM. 3) 74.7% of total patients were Seoul residents and the peak time of visits of first-visit Seoul residents was between 8:00 PM and midnight. Average lengths of stay at emergency room of total and first-visit patients were 4.3 and 4.2 hours respectively. 4) 66.4% of total visits were pediatric patients. Five major diseases were acute nasopharyngits (6. 1%), laceration (4.1%), acute gastroenteritis (4.0%), pharyngotonsillitis (3.7%), FUO (3.4%), and congenital heart disease (3.1%). 5) The major disorders by system were injury and poisoning, diseases of the respiratory system, symptoms, signs and ill-defined conditions, diseases of the digestive system, and diseases of the nervous system and sense organs in receding order. 6) The most prevalent age group of injury and poisoning and diseases of the nervous system and sense organs was between 3 and 6 years of age; in case of the digestive system and infectious and parasitic diseases, in infancy; in case of diseases of the respiratory system, between 1 and 3 years of age. 7) 28.7% of total patients were hospitalized (32.3%, in case of first-visit patients). 64.0%of total patients carried medical insurance (58.4%, in case of first-visit patients).

Keywords :Pediatric Emergency Room, Utilization