Observational studyPediatrics2021
Prolonged Emergency Department Length of Stay for US Pediatric Mental Health Visits (2005-2015).
Observational study in Pediatrics, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 29 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
29 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Mobile crisis effectiveness: a systematic review and associated functions and forms framework.BMC health services research · 2025Pooled it
- Outcomes Following a Mental Health Care Intervention for Children in the Emergency Department: A Nonrandomized Clinical Trial.JAMA network open · 2025Trial
- Healthcare staff evaluation of an emergency department mental health room: a Virtual reality study.Building research and information · 2026Article
- Shortening the Stay for Youths in Acute Care Hospitals: A Scoping Review of Interventions.Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.) · 2026Article
- Article
- Article
- Variations in Psychiatric Emergency Department Boarding for Medicaid-Enrolled Youths.JAMA health forum · 2025Article
- Pediatric Mental Health Boarding in US Emergency Departments, 2018-2022.Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians open · 2025Article
- Scoping Review and Clinical Guidance: Disparities in the Care of Youth With Agitation or Aggression in the Emergency Department.JAACAP open · 2025Review
- Trends in Emergency Department, Primary Care, and Behavioral Health Use for Pediatric Mental Health Conditions in Virginia before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.BMC primary care · 2025Article
- Factors associated with extended length of stay for paediatric mental health presentations to EDs in South Western Sydney, Australia.Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA · 2025Article
- Article
- Patterns of health service use for children with mental disorders in an Australian state population cohort.The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry · 2024Article
- Identifying Precise Targets to Improve Child Mental Health Care Equity: Leveraging Advances in Clinical Research Informatics and Lived Experience.Child and adolescent psychiatric clinics of North America · 2024Review
- Management of youth with suicidal ideation: Challenges and best practices for emergency departments.Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians open · 2024Article
- Differences in diagnostic rules used to determine borderline personality disorder impact prevalence and associations with clinically relevant variables: Findings from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III.Personality disorders · 2024Article
- Reduction of Mental Health-Related Emergency Department Admissions for Youth and Young Adults Following a Remote Intensive Outpatient Program: Quality Improvement Analysis.JMIR formative research · 2023Article
- Treatment of pediatric behavioral health patients with intravenous and intramuscular chemical restraints: Results from a nationwide sample of emergency departments.Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine · 2023Article
- The Cost of Universal Suicide Risk Screening for Adolescents in Emergency Departments.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Article
- Trends in Acute Care Use for Mental Health Conditions Among Youth During the COVID-19 Pandemic.JAMA psychiatry · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND
objectivesChildren seeking care in the emergency department (ED) for mental health conditions are at risk for prolonged length of stay (LOS). A more contemporary description of trends and visit characteristics associated with prolonged ED LOS at the national level is lacking in the literature. Our objectives were to (1) compare LOS trends for pediatric mental health versus non-mental health ED visits and (2) explore patient-level characteristics associated with prolonged LOS for mental health ED visits.
methodsWe conducted an observational analysis of ED visits among children 6 to 17 years of age using the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (2005-2015). We assessed trends in rates of prolonged LOS and the association between prolonged LOS and demographic and clinical characteristics (race and ethnicity, payer type, and presence of a concurrent physical health diagnosis) using descriptive statistics and survey-weighted logistic regression.
resultsFrom 2005 to 2015, rates of prolonged LOS for pediatric mental health ED visits increased over time from 16.3% to 24.6% (LOS >6 hours) and 5.3% to 12.7% (LOS >12 hours), in contrast to non-mental health visits for which LOS remained stable. For mental health visits, Hispanic ethnicity was associated with an almost threefold odds of LOS >12 hours (odds ratio 2.74; 95% confidence interval 1.69-4.44); there was no difference in LOS by payer type.
conclusionsThe substantial rise in prolonged LOS for mental health ED visits and disparity for Hispanic children suggest worsening and inequitable access to definitive pediatric mental health care. Policy makers and health systems should work to provide equitable and timely access to pediatric mental health care.
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