Use of developmental charts in teaching well-child care

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

sick children was launched at St. Mary's Hospital with three main objectives in mind: 1. To discover to what extent, and in what medical and home conditions, sick children who would otherwise be in the hospital can be nursed at home under the care of their family doctor supported by a mobile hospital team. 2. To improve liaison between the hospital and family practitioners by sharing clinical responsibility without the doctor losing control of his patient. 3. To compare the cost of inpatient treatment with the cost to tt~e hospital of such home care arrangements. Up to April, 1961, 2,241 children have been cared for, approximately 300 per year. Two thirds of the children are under 5 years of age and most have been referred directly by their family physician. Acute infections constitute the majority of medical problems seen, though chronic diseases constitute a significant part of the work. There are few sick children, exempting surgical patients, who cannot be treated at home. Social factors are usually more of a limitation than gravity of illness. Many hospital beds have been saved by avoidance of unnecessal T admissions The extent of participation of the local practitioners varied considerably. Most welcomed the scheme and found it helpful. The cost of treating children at home was considerably tess than hospital care, though this data must be interpreted cautiously. Probably the greatest benefit of the program has been the educational value to participating hospital staff and medical students. The opportunity to work in patients' homes in close cooperation with family practitioners is an opportunity not offered by most pediatric training programs and seems a natural way for observing interactions between environment and illness.