Newborn Morbidities and Health Charges
Newborn Morbidities and Health Charges
At the end of the second month post-hospital discharge, there were 26 emergency room visits (18.7%), eight urgent care visits (5.8%), and four hospitalizations (2.9%) in the total sample of infants. Overall, the most common diagnosis for an infant emergency room visit was upper respiratory illness (bronchiolitis, upper respiratory infection, viral syndrome) (5.6 %) followed by feeding problems (2.8%), rash (1.4%), eye discharge (2.1%), and constipation (2.1%) (see Table 2 ). The most common infant urgent care diagnoses were respiratory problems (1.4%) and feeding problems (1.4%). The most common infant hospitalization diagnosis was respiratory problems (2.8%), including bronchiolitis (2.1%) and pneumonia (0.7%).
Emergency room visits for infants occurred as early as day two post-hospital discharge (0.7%) up to 40 days post-hospital discharge (0.7%). The overall mean infant age for emergency room visits was M = 14.5 days (SD = 10.7), urgent care visits M = 22.6 (SD = 17.5), and rehospitalizations M = 33.7 (SD = 11.3).
Thirty-four infants had charges for urgent health services as follows: emergency room, n = 26; urgent care visits, n = 8; and rehospitalizations, n = 4. Total charges for each of these services were emergency room – $24,255 (M = $932), urgent care visits – $2,937 (M= $367), and rehospitalizations – $56,377 (M = $14,094).
Routine Health Care Visits. The majority of the newborns in this study received a well-baby clinic visit within 48 to 72 hours post-hospital discharge (75%), a one-month well baby clinic visit (74.1%), and a two-month well-baby clinic visit (89.2%). These findings indicate that the majority of low-income mothers in the study attended their routine infant follow-up visits as recommended by the AAP.
Immunizations. The majority of infants received their immunizations (87.8%) at the two-month follow-up visit. Mothers of 15 infants who had not attended their two-month visit were contacted and had appointments for their two-month follow-up visit. Two infants attended their two-month visit but did not receive their immunizations due to illnesses. They were rescheduled to receive immunizations at a later date.
Results
Infant Morbidity
At the end of the second month post-hospital discharge, there were 26 emergency room visits (18.7%), eight urgent care visits (5.8%), and four hospitalizations (2.9%) in the total sample of infants. Overall, the most common diagnosis for an infant emergency room visit was upper respiratory illness (bronchiolitis, upper respiratory infection, viral syndrome) (5.6 %) followed by feeding problems (2.8%), rash (1.4%), eye discharge (2.1%), and constipation (2.1%) (see Table 2 ). The most common infant urgent care diagnoses were respiratory problems (1.4%) and feeding problems (1.4%). The most common infant hospitalization diagnosis was respiratory problems (2.8%), including bronchiolitis (2.1%) and pneumonia (0.7%).
Emergency room visits for infants occurred as early as day two post-hospital discharge (0.7%) up to 40 days post-hospital discharge (0.7%). The overall mean infant age for emergency room visits was M = 14.5 days (SD = 10.7), urgent care visits M = 22.6 (SD = 17.5), and rehospitalizations M = 33.7 (SD = 11.3).
Health Care Charges
Thirty-four infants had charges for urgent health services as follows: emergency room, n = 26; urgent care visits, n = 8; and rehospitalizations, n = 4. Total charges for each of these services were emergency room – $24,255 (M = $932), urgent care visits – $2,937 (M= $367), and rehospitalizations – $56,377 (M = $14,094).
Access to Health Care
Routine Health Care Visits. The majority of the newborns in this study received a well-baby clinic visit within 48 to 72 hours post-hospital discharge (75%), a one-month well baby clinic visit (74.1%), and a two-month well-baby clinic visit (89.2%). These findings indicate that the majority of low-income mothers in the study attended their routine infant follow-up visits as recommended by the AAP.
Immunizations. The majority of infants received their immunizations (87.8%) at the two-month follow-up visit. Mothers of 15 infants who had not attended their two-month visit were contacted and had appointments for their two-month follow-up visit. Two infants attended their two-month visit but did not receive their immunizations due to illnesses. They were rescheduled to receive immunizations at a later date.
