Pediatric Emergency Department Census During Major Sporting Events

• Published in: Pediatric emergency care Vol. 28; no. 11; pp. 1158 - 1161
• Main Authors: Kim, Tommy Y, Barcega, Besh B, Denmark, T Kent
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc 01-11-2012; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
• Subjects: Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Censuses; Child; Emergency and intensive care: techniques, logistics; Emergency Service, Hospital - statistics & numerical data; Hospitalization - statistics & numerical data; Hospitals, Pediatric - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Intensive care medicine; Intensive care unit. Emergency transport systems. Emergency, hospital ward; Medical sciences; Retrospective Studies; Sentinel Surveillance; Sports - statistics & numerical data; United States; United States; Human; Pediatrics; Intensive care; Sport; Emergency department; sports; census; event; Child; Resuscitation
• ISSN: 0749-5161; 1535-1815
• DOI: 10.1097/PEC.0b013e31827171f0

OBJECTIVESOur study attempted to evaluate the effects of major sporting events on the census of a pediatric emergency department (ED) in the United States specifically related to the National Football League Super Bowl, National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals, and Major League Baseball World Series.
METHODSWe performed a retrospective data analysis of our pediatric ED census on the number of visits during major sporting events over a 5-year period. Data during the same period 1 week after the major sporting event were collected for comparison as the control. We evaluated the medians of 2-hour increments around the event start time. Subgroup analysis was performed for games involving the local sporting teams.
RESULTSOur results showed no significant difference in ED census during the sporting events, except in the post 6 to 8 hours of the NBA finals. Subgroup analysis of the Los Angeles Lakers showed the same significant findings in the post 6 to 8 hours of the NBA finals.
CONCLUSIONSNo major difference in pediatric ED census is observed during the most major sporting events in the United States.