title: Parental expectations of care and charges in a tertiary care pediatric ED.
abstract: Our objective was to assess parental expectations of diagnostic testing, time, and charges in a pediatric emergency department (PED) using a prospective survey-based study. Parents on arrival estimated the amount of testing, time, and charges expected to occur. A total of 266 of 294 (90.5%) of the questionnaires were completed and returned. Parents correctly predicted the need for radiographic evaluation in 185 of 258 (71.7%), laboratory evaluation in 179 of 257 (69.6%), and medication in 144 of 259 (55.6%). The average length of stay was 2 hours and 36 minutes and was correctly estimated within preset ranges by 86 of 253 (34.0%) and underestimated by 112 of 253 (44.3%). The mean total charge was $964 per visit and was correctly estimated within preset ranges by 91 of 260 (35.0%) and underestimated by 139 of 260 (53.3%). Despite being relatively accurate about the need for medications and radiographic and laboratory studies, parents are still more likely than not to underestimate the total charges and time associated with a PED visit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hostetler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D005260:Female; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010372:Pediatrics; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013714:Tennessee