Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39480646›Full record

ArticlePediatric emergency care2025

Emergency Medical Services and Police Utilization for Pediatric Mental and Behavioral Health Concerns Within a Large Hospital System.

Victoria Hartwell, Lauren Riney, Alexandra Cheetham, Wendy J Pomerantz, Sang Hoon Lee, Rachel Bensman, Hamilton Schwartz, Yin Zhang, Lynn Babcock, Cincinnati Children's Prehospital Care Committee

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Pediatric emergency care, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Victoria HartwellFrom the Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati.ORCID 0000-0003-1747-5697
Lauren RineyFrom the Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati.
Alexandra CheethamFrom the Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati.
Wendy J PomerantzFrom the Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati.
Sang Hoon LeeFrom the Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati.
Rachel BensmanFrom the Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati.
Hamilton SchwartzFrom the Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati.
Yin ZhangDivision of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH.
Lynn BabcockFrom the Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Children's Prehospital Care Committee

Funding

LCenter for Clinical and Translational Science and TrainingUL1TR001425 · NCATS · UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI · PI MEINZEN-DERR, JAREEN, STRAWN, JEFFREY ROBERT · 2015 to 2024
$37.5M
NCATS NIH HHS UL1 TR001425
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis study aimed to compare emergency medical services (EMS) and police utilization trends, epidemiology, and emergency department (ED) outcomes between pediatric patients with mental or behavioral health (MBH) emergencies and those with non-MBH concerns transported to a large children's hospital system.

methodsThis was a retrospective cohort study of patients aged 5 to 18 years transported via EMS and police to two EDs affiliated with a children's hospital from January 2012 through December 2020. Data were abstracted from electronic hospital records. Encounters for MBH emergencies were identified using diagnostic codes and chief complaints. Trends of EMS and police transports of patients with MBH emergencies were examined. Patient demographics and ED outcomes were compared between children presenting with MBH emergencies and those with non-MBH concerns.

resultsDuring the 9-year study period, out of 40,663 transports to the EDs, 36,137 (89%) arrived via EMS, and 4,526 (11%) arrived via police. A total of 10,250 (28.4%) EMS transports were for MBH emergencies. The volume of patients transported by EMS for MBH emergencies increased by 1.4% per year ( P < 0.01) with no significant change in total EMS patient volumes. Patients with MBH emergencies transported by EMS were more likely to be older, female, of White race, and publicly insured; require restraint in the ED; and be admitted ( P < 0.001). Of police transports, 4153 (91.8%) were for MBH emergencies, with no statistical change in the proportion of police transports that were for MBH emergencies. Police-transported MBH patients compared to non-MBH police-transported patients were more likely to be younger, female, and of White race ( P < 0.001); 8.7% required mechanical/physical restraints in ED, 6.7% required pharmacologic restraint medications in ED, and 53% were admitted.

conclusionsThe proportion of pediatric transports for MBH emergencies by EMS is rising and comprises the majority of police transports. Distinct from non-MBH pediatric patients transported, MBH patients necessitate significant ED resources, including ED-administered restraints and admission, highlighting their unique burden on the prehospital and ED systems.

Indexed as

Emergency Medical ServicesEmergency Service, HospitalMental DisordersPoliceAdolescentChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHospitals, PediatricHumansMaleRetrospective StudiesTransportation of Patients

Identifiers

PMID39480646
PMCPMC12435627

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.