title: Effects of social work intervention on nonemergent pediatric emergency department utilization.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine whether social work intervention would reduce nonemergent visits to the emergency department and increase scheduled pediatric visits. A high-risk repeater group of 104 pediatric patients with three or more emergency department visits was randomly selected to receive social work intervention. Control and intervention groups were compared for inappropriate emergency department utilization and scheduled primary care visits. Pre- and postintervention emergency department visits were significantly reduced in the intervention group compared with the group that received no intervention and with prior utilization. Scheduled visits declined in the control group but increased by 26 percent in the intervention group.
authors.affiliation: Cleveland Public Theatre, Cleveland Heights, OH 44121, USA. judithross@msn.com
authors.forename: Judith W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Karen Sofranko
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.forename: Ben H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Brouhard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D009820:Ohio; D012947:Social Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*