Kenneth A Michelson, Chris A Rees, Todd A Florin, Richard G Bachur
IMPORTANCE: Diagnostic delays are common in the emergency department (ED) and may predispose to worse outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of annual pediatric volume in the ED with delayed diagnosis. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This retrospective cohort study included all children younger than 18 years treated at 954 EDs in 8 states with a first-time diagnosis of any of 23 acute, serious conditions: bacterial meningitis, compartment syndrome, complicated pneumonia, craniospinal abscess, deep neck infection, ectopic pregnancy, encephalitis, intussusception, Kawasaki disease, mastoiditis, myocarditis, necrotizing fasciitis, nontraumatic intracranial hemorrhage, orbital cellulitis, osteomyelitis, ovarian torsion, pulmonary embolism, pyloric stenosis, septic arthritis, sinus venous thrombosis, slipped capital femoral epiphysis, stroke, or testicular torsion...
February 12, 2024: JAMA Pediatrics