Publications by Trevor Pickering for Health Policy Center

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This analysis shows that pediatric hospitalization rates are low both nationally and in Los Angeles County in comparison to adult hospitalization rates, and have gradually declined since 2000. This downward trend shows the impact of changes in the health care system that increasingly emphasizes ambulatory care and prevention over inpatient care. ACSC hospitalization rates decreased in Los Angeles, for both low- and high-income groups after the CHI was implemented (February 2003) compared to before implementation. Disparities, however, remain, and more work is needed to help close the gap in access to care for low income families in Los Angeles. Los Angeles: University of Southern California. July 2009.

Between 2000 and 2005, there were 281,000 total preventable hospital pediatric admissions. After adjusting for the effects of time and county, the rate of ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSC) hospitalizations was significantly lower post-implementation of Children's Health Initiatives (CHIs), versus pre-implementation for children of lower-income families, but not for children of higher-income families. We estimate that 6324 ACSC hospitalizations may have already been prevented in existing CHI counties after implementation, saving about $6.7 million over the 6 years, assuming $7000 per child hospitalization.

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