title: At-risk characteristics for hospital admissions and ED visits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to explore the factors associated with hospital utilization among infants and young children with complex chronic conditions (CCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive, retrospective study was conducted with 216 medical records of children with CCC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Greater complexity, younger age, living with siblings, use of public insurance or self-pay, use of more than one type of insurance, and presence of conditions affecting certain body systems were associated with increased hospital and emergency department (ED) utilization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses must have a heightened awareness of these at-risk characteristics to prevent avoidable hospital admissions and ED visits.
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, College of Nursing, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Shannon M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hudson
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Hester
authors.forename: Gayenell S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Magwood
authors.forename: Susan D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Marilyn A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Laken
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000451:nursing*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006764:Hospitals, Community / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013022:South Carolina; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population
keywords: Chronic disease; emergency health service; hospitalization; infant; preschool child