[Perception of medical emergencies in a private pediatric hospital].
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to determine if the care of child patients on admission, coincides with perception of real urgency on the part of parents with that of the doctor and not because of perceived worry in the family (perceived emergencies).


METHODS
All the care given in the emergency department, from January 1st 2009 to December 31st 2010, was analyzed. A real urgency was determined by consensus on the conditions of the child. Sociodemographic of real urgency conditions were compared against those perceived.


RESULTS
8,888 consultations were given, of which 2,024 (22.7 %) met criteria for real urgency. The main causes of real urgency were infectious diseases were followed by accidents and poisoning. Of real emergencies 17 (1 %) eventually required intensive management. Factors associated with real urgency were age, non-infectious disease, occurring between Monday to Friday, during the morning shift and in the winter months.


CONCLUSIONS
The frequency of care for real urgency was low compared to that reported in other pediatric centers. Restructuring of pre-consultation services for the implementation of optimal patient classification before going to emergency helps greatly to optimize the use of the emergency department, deriving the patients in true need sooner.
Universidad La Salle, Facultad Mexicana de Medicina, División de Postgrado, Distrito Federal, México. drmariorendon@gmail.com.
Ramón Antonio
RA
González-López
José
J
Iglesias-Leboreiro
Maria Isabel
MI
Bernárdez-Zapata
Manuel
M
Testas-Hermo
Mario Enrique
ME
Rendón-Macías
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004630:Emergencies / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016304:Hospitals, Private / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception
Emergency medical services; Pediatric hospitals; Pediatrics