Analysis of transport time of pediatric emergency patients to medical institutions by severity and time zone

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K01786
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Childhood science (childhood environment science)
• Research Institution: Hiroshima International University
• Principal Investigator: EHARA AKIRA 広島国際大学, 医療経営学部, 教授 (30507215)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 小児医療提供体制 / 救急搬送 / 地理情報システム / アクセス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The number of hospitals providing pediatric medical services is decreasing. However, the change of accessibility of children to these services was unknown. In this study, I analyzed transport time of pediatric emergency patients to medical institutions by severity and time zone, and geographic accessibility of children to the nearest hospital which provide pediatric inpatient services.
Median time required to transport of pediatric emergency patients was less than 40 minutes in daytime and at night, and there were no major changes of transport of children between 2010 and 2014. The share of main medical facilities to which pediatric patients were transported increased from 2010 to 2014. 95% of children in Japan lived within 20 km from a hospital with at least 1 full-time equivalent pediatricians, and within 50km from one with at least 5 pediatricians.

Free Research Field

子ども学、医療政策