Johnson SA, Shi J, Groner JI, Thakkar RK, Fabia R, Besner GE, Xiang H, Wheeler KK. Burns 2016; 42(7): 1413-1422.
Affiliation
Center for Pediatric Trauma Research, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH 43205, United States; Center for Injury Research and Policy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH 43205, United States. Electronic address: Krista.Wheeler@nationwidechildrens.org.
PURPOSE: To describe the epidemiology of pediatric burn patients seen in U.S. emergency departments (EDs) and to determine factors associated with inter-facility transfer.
METHODS: We analyzed data from the 2012 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample. Current American Burn Association (ABA) Guidelines were used to identify children <18 who met criteria for referral to burn centers. Burn patient admission volume was used as a proxy for burn expertise. Logistic models were fitted to examine the odds of transfer from low volume hospitals.
RESULTS: In 2012, there were an estimated 126,742 (95% CI: 116,104-137,380) pediatric burn ED visits in the U.S. Of the 69,003 (54.4%) meeting referral criteria, 83.2% were in low volume hospitals. Only 8.2% of patients meeting criteria were transferred from low volume hospitals. Of the 52,604 (95% CI: 48,433-56,775) not transferred, 98.3% were treated and released and 1.7% were admitted without transfer; 54.7% of burns involved hands.
CONCLUSIONS: Over 90% of pediatric burn ED patients meet ABA burn referral criteria but are not transferred from low volume hospitals. Perhaps a portion of the 92% of patients currently receiving definitive care in low volume hospitals are under-referred and would have improved clinical outcomes if transferred at the time of presentation.