Injury prevention and emergency medical services for children in a managed care environment

Abstract

Each year, 1 in 5 US children receives medical care as a result of injury. Injuries are the leading cause of medical spending for children ages 5 to 21 years, accounting for more than 20% of hospital admissions and days spent in the hospital. Pediatric injuries become an important issue for managed care organizations because of concern for member safety and increasing medical costs related to treatment. Because effective prevention decreases health care consumption, injury prevention often costs less than treating injuries. Simple devices, such as bicycle helmets, smoke detectors, and child safety seats, help keep children safe and save money. Appropriate emergency care at the scene of an injury, poison control centers that dispense expert advice over the telephone, and triaged regional trauma systems improve the outcome and save money at the same time. This article continues the white paper series by the Emergency Medical Services for Children Managed Care Task Force. [Moody-Williams JD, Athey J, Barlow B, Blanton D, Garrison H, Mickalide A, Miller T, Olson L, Skripak D. Injury prevention and emergency medical services for children in a managed care environment. Ann Emerg Med . March 2000;35:245-251.]