PEDIATRICS Vol. 88 No. 2 August 1991, pp. 230-235
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Emergency Medical Services and the Pediatric Patient III: Resources of Ambulatory Care Centers

James S. Seidel MD, PhD1, Deborah P. Henderson RN, MA1, and Jamie B. Lewis MD2

1 From the Departments of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, UCLA School of Medicine
2 Maple Medical Group, Torrance, California

Ambulatory care centers have emerged as a new health care resource in many communities. Little information is available about the services that these centers offer to pediatric patients. A national survey of 254 ambulatory care centers was undertaken to determine their characteristics, including the number of pediatric patients seen, staffing patterns, and pediatric equipment and supplies available. Most clinics were located in urban areas and were within 5 miles of a hospital. They were staffed primarily by physicians who were board certified in emergency medicine, internal medicine, or family medicine. Not all centers had registered nurses on duty and few used extended-role nurses or physicians's assistants. The centers saw an average of 18 patients younger than 18 years of age per day. Some ambulatory care centers received emergency medical service and private ambulance calls and encountered serious illness such as chest pain, seizures, and anaphylaxis; the majority, however, handled mainly minor injuries and illnesses. Although most had pediatric equipment and supplies, some did not have a complete set of pediatric resuscitation equipment even though they were part of the emergency system offering care to the pediatric population.

Key Words: ambulatory care centers • urgent care • pediatric emergency • freestanding clinic

Submitted on March 1, 1990
Accepted on July 31, 1990