Referral Source for Concussion Clinic After Sports-related Traumatic Brain Injury
Location
LSU Health Sciences Center - New Orleans
Event Website
https://www.medschool.lsuhsc.edu/genetics/2023_medical_student_research_poster_symposium.aspx
Presentation Date
23-10-2023 8:29 AM
Description
Introduction: An estimated 6.6 million pediatric head injuries occur each year nationwide1, and sports-related injuries in particular are on the rise. Currently, little is known about whether certain populations have difficulty accessing care for sports-related concussions (SRC). Recent trends have shown an increasing amount of Medicaid patients and decreasing amount of privately insured patients presenting to the emergency department (ED)3. Further, patients identifying as white and having private insurance are reportedly seen more in specialized concussion clinics than their counterparts4, despite the rates of concussions rising among all socioeconomic classes5. We hypothesize that children with Medicaid will be more likely to utilize the ED over their pediatrician’s office as their primary encounter after a sports-related traumatic brain injury. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients < 18 years who were diagnosed with SRC at our stand-alone children’s hospital from January 2007 to December 2022. We performed t-test, chi-square vs Fischer’s exact (as deemed appropriate), and univariate and multivariate analyses for referral source. Results: Of the 710 patients reviewed, 6 were uninsured, 411 were on Medicaid, and 291 were privately insured. Medicaid/uninsured patients were more likely to be referred from the ED than patients with commercial insurance (63.5% vs 39.5%, p=0.001). Conclusions: Medicaid patients are more likely to utilize the ED for concussion care. We plan to implement community, school-based, and parent education to better delineate guidelines for concussion care, with the goal of optimizing resource utilization and improved ease of referral for multidisciplinary follow up care.
Recommended Citation
Monk, Holly R., "Referral Source for Concussion Clinic After Sports-related Traumatic Brain Injury" (2023). Medical Student Research Poster Symposium. 74.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/sommrd/2023MSRD/Posters/74
Referral Source for Concussion Clinic After Sports-related Traumatic Brain Injury
LSU Health Sciences Center - New Orleans
Introduction: An estimated 6.6 million pediatric head injuries occur each year nationwide1, and sports-related injuries in particular are on the rise. Currently, little is known about whether certain populations have difficulty accessing care for sports-related concussions (SRC). Recent trends have shown an increasing amount of Medicaid patients and decreasing amount of privately insured patients presenting to the emergency department (ED)3. Further, patients identifying as white and having private insurance are reportedly seen more in specialized concussion clinics than their counterparts4, despite the rates of concussions rising among all socioeconomic classes5. We hypothesize that children with Medicaid will be more likely to utilize the ED over their pediatrician’s office as their primary encounter after a sports-related traumatic brain injury. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients < 18 years who were diagnosed with SRC at our stand-alone children’s hospital from January 2007 to December 2022. We performed t-test, chi-square vs Fischer’s exact (as deemed appropriate), and univariate and multivariate analyses for referral source. Results: Of the 710 patients reviewed, 6 were uninsured, 411 were on Medicaid, and 291 were privately insured. Medicaid/uninsured patients were more likely to be referred from the ED than patients with commercial insurance (63.5% vs 39.5%, p=0.001). Conclusions: Medicaid patients are more likely to utilize the ED for concussion care. We plan to implement community, school-based, and parent education to better delineate guidelines for concussion care, with the goal of optimizing resource utilization and improved ease of referral for multidisciplinary follow up care.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/sommrd/2023MSRD/Posters/74
Comments
Mentor: Dr. Jessica Zagory LSUHSC, Department of Surgery; Children’s Hospital