Adolescents, Failed by U.S. Health Care, Go to Emergency Rooms
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By Justin Blum
Dec. 9 (Bloomberg) -- Adolescents rely on hospital emergency rooms for routine treatment more than any other age group, according to a report that found the U.S. health-care system often fails those ages 10 to 19.
Many youths lack access to specialty services for mental health, substance abuse and sexual and reproductive health, according to the report today by the National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine.
While most U.S. adolescents are healthy, many engage in risky behavior, from binge drinking to carrying weapons, and have physical and mental conditions that can ultimately be harmful, according to the report.
“Even when services are accessible, many adolescents may not find them acceptable because of concerns that confidentiality is not fully ensured, especially in such sensitive domains as substance use or sexual and reproductive health,” according to the report.
Some young people turn to “safety-net” providers that include emergency rooms and school health centers “for routine as well as emergency care, rates that increase with age among both male and female adolescents,” the authors said.
Government, private foundations and insurers should promote a coordinated health-care system that seeks to improve care for adolescents, and lawmakers should develop plans to ensure comprehensive health coverage, the authors said.
Children’s Insurance
Democrats in Congress next month plan to renew their efforts to add 4 million kids to the state children’s health insurance program, or Schip, which now subsidizes coverage for 6 million low-income kids younger than 19. The legislation was twice vetoed by President George W. Bush last year. President-elect Barack Obama supports an overhaul of the health-care system that would expand subsidies for health insurance and make coverage of all children mandatory.
The National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine are private, non-profit organizations that bring together experts to give advice to the government and public. They are part of the National Academies in Washington. |
