Pediatric observation units.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-1-2012
Identifier
DOI: 10.1542/peds.2012-1358
Abstract
Pediatric observation units (OUs) are hospital areas used to provide medical evaluation and/or management for health-related conditions in children, typically for a well-defined, brief period. Pediatric OUs represent an emerging alternative site of care for selected groups of children who historically may have received their treatment in an ambulatory setting, emergency department, or hospital-based inpatient unit. This clinical report provides an overview of pediatric OUs, including the definitions and operating characteristics of different types of OUs, quality considerations and coding for observation services, and the effect of OUs on inpatient hospital utilization.
Journal Title
Pediatrics
Volume
130
Issue
1
First Page
172
Last Page
179
MeSH Keywords
Child; Delivery of Health Care; Hospital Units; Hospitalization; Humans; Pediatrics; Quality Assurance, Health Care; United States
Keywords
Observation units
Recommended Citation
Conners, G. P., ., ., Betts, J. M., Chitkara, M. B., Jewell, J. A., Lye, P. S., Mirkinson, L. J., Shaw, K. N., Ackerman, A. D., Chun, T. H., Conners, G. P., Dudley, N. C., Fein, J. A., Fuchs, S. M., Moore, B. R., Selbst, S. M., Wright, J. L., Melzer, S. M. Pediatric observation units. Pediatrics 130, 172-179 (2012).
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