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Visits to Pediatric Clinics by Adult Patients: A Nationwide Survey in Taiwan

Author

Listed:
  • Kang-Lung Lee

    (Department of Radiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, No. 201, Sec. 2, Shi-Pai Road, Taipei 112, Taiwan
    School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, No. 155, Sec. 2, Linong Street, Taipei 112, Taiwan)

  • An-Min Lynn

    (Master of Public Health Degree Program, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, No. 17, Xuzhou Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan
    Department of Family Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, No. 5, Fuxing Street., Guishan District, Taoyuan City 33305, Taiwan)

  • Tzeng-Ji Chen

    (School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, No. 155, Sec. 2, Linong Street, Taipei 112, Taiwan
    Department of Family Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, No. 201, Sec. 2, Shi-Pai Road, Taipei 112, Taiwan
    Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration, National Yang-Ming University, No. 155, Sec. 2, Linong Street, Taipei 112, Taiwan)

  • Ling-Yu Yang

    (School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, No. 155, Sec. 2, Linong Street, Taipei 112, Taiwan
    Department of Medical Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, No. 201, Sec. 2, Shi-Pai Road, Taipei 112, Taiwan
    Department of Pediatrics, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, No. 201, Sec. 2, Shi-Pai Road, Taipei 112, Taiwan)

  • Shu-Chiung Chiang

    (Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration, National Yang-Ming University, No. 155, Sec. 2, Linong Street, Taipei 112, Taiwan
    Department of Financial Engineering and Actuarial Mathematics, Soochow University, Taipei 100, Taiwan)

Abstract

Pediatricians are trained to provide non-surgical medical care to children. Improvements in medical treatments and surgical techniques have extended the survival of children with congenital diseases and chronic illnesses. Consequently, pediatricians may provide continuous medical service to their patients into adulthood. Meanwhile, as Taiwan’s birth rate has fallen to one of the lowest in the world, pediatricians are encountering growing competition. As a source of continued revenue, pediatricians could also provide medical care to adults with common diseases and patients with adult-onset chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the pattern of adult ambulatory visits to pediatric clinics recorded by Taiwan’s National Health Insurance (NHI) system during 2000 to 2011. From 1/500 sampling datasets, we found that adult ambulatory visits to pediatric clinics rose steadily and statistically significantly from 16% of total visits to pediatric clinics in 2000 to 32% in 2011. Analysis of the diagnoses associated with adult ambulatory visits to pediatric clinics indicated that the most common diagnoses for such patients at academic medical centers were chronic illnesses, including epilepsy, cardiac and circulatory congenital anomalies, and diabetes. Meanwhile, at physician clinics, airway infections/diseases and gastroenteritis were the most common diagnoses. In an era of low birth rates, our findings contribute to an evidence-based discussion and provide new information that may assist in healthcare policymaking.

Suggested Citation

  • Kang-Lung Lee & An-Min Lynn & Tzeng-Ji Chen & Ling-Yu Yang & Shu-Chiung Chiang, 2018. "Visits to Pediatric Clinics by Adult Patients: A Nationwide Survey in Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-11, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:7:p:1538-:d:158999
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. An-Min Lynn & Li-Jung Lai & Ming-Hwai Lin & Tzeng-Ji Chen & Shinn-Jang Hwang & Peng-Hui Wang, 2015. "Pattern of Ambulatory Care Visits to Obstetrician-Gynecologists in Taiwan: A Nationwide Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-10, June.
    2. Chia-Pei Chang & Chia-Lin Chou & Yueh-Ching Chou & Chun-Chih Shao & H. Irene Su & Tzeng-Ji Chen & Li-Fang Chou & Hann-Chin Yu, 2014. "The Ecology of Gynecological Care for Women," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-9, July.
    3. Ling-Yu Yang & An-Min Lynn & Tzeng-Ji Chen, 2015. "Ambulatory Care Visits to Pediatricians in Taiwan: A Nationwide Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-12, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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