Hospital closures leave critically ill children with fewer care options

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 29 Oct, 12:15 · Archive

Hospital paediatric intensive care units are closing nationwide, forcing critically ill children to travel farther for treatment.

Hospital units dedicated to treating the nation's sickest children are closing across the United States. Community Medical Center in Missoula, Montana, ended its paediatric intensive care services in October. In the past year, hospitals have also closed such units in Oregon and Missouri, whilst overnight paediatric hospital wings have shuttered in Illinois and California.

As hospitals look to cut costs, many are converting paediatric intensive care beds into services for newborns or adults. This has centralised paediatric intensive care in medical hubs, requiring critically ill children to travel significantly farther for lifesaving care. A recent analysis found paediatric inpatient units decreased by nearly 30 per cent from 2008 to 2022, falling from 1,749 hospitals to 1,226. Three-quarters of hospitals now have no paediatric inpatient services.

Hospitals cite several reasons for the cuts. Patient volumes are low since intensive care for children is relatively rare. The nation faces a shortage of paediatric subspecialists, who earn less than those focused on adults. Hospitals are paid less to treat children than adults, whilst equipment tailored for children adds extra costs. These pressures affect both small nonprofit and large private equity-owned community hospitals. Elizabeth Mack, a paediatric critical care doctor and spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics, cautioned that children cannot be expected to be 'fine' if the nearest children's hospital requires a flight or eight-hour drive.

How it is being reported

• Hospital Beds for the Nation’s Sickest Kids Are DisappearingCommunity Medical Center in Missoula, Montana, ended pediatric intensive care services in October, part of a national trend forcing critically ill children to travel farther for treatment. The hospital continues to offer other pediatric services and maintains a neonatal intensive care unit for newborns. (Katheryn Houghton/KFF Health News) Hospital units dedicated to treating the nation’s […] The post Hospital Beds for the Nation’s Sickest Kids Are Disappearing appeared first on Flathead Beacon .Flathead Beacon · 29 Oct, 11:42
• Hospital beds for the nation’s sickest kids are disappearingThis story also appeared in KFF Health News Hospital units dedicated to treating the nation’s sickest kids are disappearing nationwide. In the past year alone, hospitals have closed pediatric intensive care units for critically ill kids in Montana, Oregon, and Missouri. Overnight hospital wings for kids have also shuttered in Illinois and California. Depending on […] The post Hospital beds for the nation’s sickest kids are disappearing appeared first on Montana Free Press .Montana Free Press · 28 Oct, 17:20

In this story: Community Medical Center · Missoula · Montana · American Academy of Pediatrics · Elizabeth Mack · Oregon · Missouri · Illinois

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