Enhancing Patient Equity for Pediatric Patients in the Emergency Department

Honors

Franklin University Dissertation Excellence Award - Nominee (Summer 2024)

Date of Award

Summer 2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Healthcare Administration (DHA)

Committee Chair

David Meckstroth

Committee Member

Karen Lankisch

Committee Member

John Suozzi

Abstract

The United States pediatric population is unique in that the epidemiological trends differ from those seen in the adult population. When discussing the pediatric emergency department (ED), this is typically a setting with high patient flow which requires swift diagnoses and treatment. Ideally, all patients should have equal opportunity to receive their highest possible level of quality healthcare, regardless of social determinants of health (SDOH) such as patient race/ethnic background, preferred spoken language, socioeconomic status, and insurance status. This is essentially the concept of health equity. The goal is to provide responsible and ethical healthcare to patients. If healthcare delivery is disproportionate, this may result in the overcrowding of EDs, delays in patient care, economic burden on the healthcare system, and increased morbidity and mortality. Some scholars have claimed that both individual and systemic biases have resulted in inequitable healthcare delivery. The following research study investigated health equity in the United States pediatric ED via the following question: What government and organizational policy changes can be made to enhance ED pediatric patient equity by utilizing first-hand information from ED physicians? The selected methodology for this research was qualitative and utilized in-depth semi-structured interviews of 15 pediatric ED physicians via Franklin University’s Zoom platform. ATLAS.ti software was used to assist in identifying key themes and sub-themes from the code transcriptions.

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS