Wasted health care dollars: routine cord blood type and Coombs' testing

Article Abstract:

Ceasing routine testing of the newborn's umbilical cord blood to ascertain ABO or Rh incompatibility does not appear to have any effect on diagnosis of hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) and would save money. HDN is severe jaundice due to the mother's antibodies destroying the child's red blood cells. All babies born during a one-year period at a medical referral center had routine determination of umbilical cord blood type and a Coomb's test, whereas in a subsequent year, only at-risk infants were tested. This policy reduced the number of blood samples tested from 1,593 to 1,048, a 76% reduction. Fifteen children required readmission for neonatal jaundice, and there were two readmissions for HDN due to ABO incompatibility during each time period. No differences were found in length of hospitalization for jaundice nor in peak jaundice levels. Selective testing saved the hospital $8,745 in hospital costs, $23,759 in patient charges, and 180 hours of technician time.

Evaluation, Testing, Medical care, Medical care, Cost of, Health care costs, Medical care utilization, Fetal blood

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Extremely low-birth-weight children and their peers: a comparison of school-age outcomes

Article Abstract:

School-age children who had extremely low birth weights (ELBW) as infants may still experience serious physical and mental deficits. Researchers evaluated 54 ELBW children at age seven for developmental deficits and the need for special education as compared to other children of similar race, sex, and socioeconomic group. Half of the 54 ELBW children had significant learning problems qualifying them for special education services. Twenty percent of the children had permanent developmental deficits, even though they were from middle-class, supportive families. ELBW children tested lower and closer to average than comparison children.

Prognosis, Infants (Premature), Birth weight, Low, Premature infants, Low birth weight, Infant development

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Pediatric Injury Hospitalization in Hispanic Children and Non-Hispanic White Children in Southern California

Article Abstract:

Hispanic children seem to have a higher rate of injury compared to other children. In a survey of 8 cities and communities in Orange County, California, the childhood injury rate was 60% in Hispanic children compared to other children. Hispanic children were twice as likely to be injured as a pedestrian, aspirate foreign objects down the windpipe, and suffer from accidental poisoning. Hispanic parents may need culturally acceptable educational programs to teach them how to protect their children from injury.

Statistical Data Included, Injuries, Statistics, Wounds and injuries, Hispanic American children

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