Definition of Admission of Infants & Children on Medical Grounds in Health Facilities

Admission of pediatric patients (infants/children) to a health care facility for medical grounds is a term used to justify admission to those involved in the financial and business aspect of running the hospital. This means those who are not privy to your personal data, but need to know that you have an actual need to use space, supplies and staff and potential for in-house financial assistance.

Primary Reasons for Infant and Newborn Admissions

• Infants and newborns account for up to 13 percent of hospital admissions with two primary reasons. The first reason is if the infant is a newborn. Newborns are admitted for 24 to 48 hours after birth and evaluated. If there are no complications, newborns are released home after that time. The second cause is based on infection or a condition where actual admission beyond birth is required. Most common are respiratory difficulties or infection, hemolytic jaundice, birth defects and other infections.

Admission for Children

• The top reasons for a "medical grounds" admission for children are respiratory issues (including influenza) like pneumonia, bronchitis and asthma. "Pneumonia and asthma are among the top 10 reasons for admission for all pediatric age groups," according to the HCUP report put out by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

Infections and Injuries

• Infections, injuries, complications from surgeries and anesthesia, and adolescent pregnancy complications--including complications from delivery--are all common reasons for hospitalizations for children. Mental health issues and concerns also fall under the category of "medical grounds" for admission, as the child may be feared to be a danger to himself or others, compromising the his health.

Why Not Treat Outpatient or Treat and Release?

• If you bring your infant or child to the clinic and they refer you to the ER or you go straight to the ER and they need to admit your child, the general admission grounds will be based on medical grounds. The secondary reason is more specific and helpful for your diagnosis and care. If the infant or child is admitted, this means that the problem is more severe than simply evaluation and treating with an antibiotic at home, or giving nebulizer treatments of albuterol for respiratory issues. This means that the infection or condition is severe enough and has progressed to a point where admission is the best for treatment, safety and improvement in the condition. Not all admissions are life-threatening--for example, after certain surgeries an individual can be admitted for a night or two for observation--but all hospitalizations are watching for life-threatening situations that can, or could arise if the person is not admitted.