@article{ref1,
title="Inter-facility transfer of pediatric burn patients from U.S. emergency departments",
journal="Burns: journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries",
year="2016",
author="Johnson, Sarah A. and Shi, Junxin and Groner, Jonathan I. and Thakkar, Rajan K. and Fabia, Renata and Besner, Gail E. and Xiang, Huiyun and Wheeler, Krista K.",
volume="42",
number="7",
pages="1413-1422",
abstract="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. <br><br>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. <br><br>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. <br><br>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.<br><br>Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0305-4179",
doi="10.1016/j.burns.2016.06.024",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2016.06.024"
}