U SAGE OF E MERGENCY M EDICAL S ERVICES BY C HILDREN WITH S PECIAL H EALTH C ARE N EEDS

Abstract

Objective. To describe the usage of emergency medical services (EMS) by children with special health care needs (CSHCN). Methods. All EMS runs and related hospital records for children aged 0–17 years in Utah in 1991–92 were linked. The CSHCN status was determined from ICD-9 diagnoses using three available definitions. The amounts of EMS usage were compared between CSHCN and other children. A pediatric intensive care practitioner determined CSHCN status by chart review for 915 children transported by EMS to a pediatric tertiary care hospital, and his classification was compared with the CSHCN status assigned by the three ICD-9-based definitions. Results. The three definitions assigned CSHCN status for 2% to 24% of children using EMS. When compared with other children, CSHCN were more likely to be admitted to the hospital, more likely to use EMS for transfer between health care facilities, and more likely to receive prehospital procedures such as intravenous therapy. In the group of children whose charts were reviewed individually, one ICD-9-based definition most closely agreed to determination of CSHCN status by a pediatric intensive care practitioner. Conclusions. Children with special health care needs who use EMS are more likely to receive advanced life support service, to receive prehospital procedures, and to be transferred from one health care facility to another. There is need for a specific and measurable definition of CSHCN that can be applied to existing health data.