National Profile of Nonemergent Pediatric Emergency Department Visits

Abstract

This study assessed non-emergency pediatric emergency department (ED) visits using 2002–2005 data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey of a representative sample of United States households. The urgency of visits was characterized using the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification code, the New York University ED classification algorithm, and separate characteristics developed by the authors. Non-emergent visits included mild asthma, viral syndromes, otitis media, allergy, or minor injury.