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US paediatric ED use: low EMS share, high acuity

National Patterns of Pediatric Emergency Department Utilization by Arrival Mode and Geographic Setting: Final Data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey 2016–2022
Prehospital Emergency Care · Added 6 August 2026

Retrospective analysis of 202.5 million US pediatric ED visits (2016–2022) found children comprised only 7% of EMS transports but presented with higher acuity, more abnormal vital signs, and increasing psychiatric and behavioral presentations over time.

Study type

Cross-sectional

Design

Cross-sectional analysis of nationally representative US survey (NHAMCS) with survey weights

Participants

202.5 million estimated paediatric ED visits 2016–2022, including 9.0 million EMS arrivals

Main finding

Children were ~7% of EMS transports; EMS-arriving children had higher acuity triage (29.8% vs 8.5%), admission/transfer (24.9% vs 5.3%) and ≥1 abnormal vital sign (40.4% vs 22.6%); psychiatric/behavioural/substance-use conditions were ~12% of paediatric EMS encounters and increased over time

Caveat

US data and survey estimates, so may not generalise to Australian systems

Bottom line

Context only

Learning goal

Understand how acuity and rising mental health presentations shape paediatric decisions to transport children by ambulance.

More

• Topic: Paediatrics
• Daily scan: 6 August 2026

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