HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS OF CHILDREN IN LOMBARDIA: CAUSES AND VARIABILITY AMONG DIFFERENT WARDS

Key words: Hospital admissions, Pediatric Wards, Disease Related Groups, Diarrhoea

The analysis of the final diagnosis of children admitted to the 66 Pediatric Wards of Regione Lombardia (Italy) during the year 2003 showed an excess of variability of the number and the causes of these admissions. Twenty percent of the wards had less than 750 admissions. Nearly half of all admissions were due to diseases which could be best managed in an outpatient setting, such as acute diarrhoea, upper respiratory tract infections, bronchitis, headache, and pneumonia. Comparing local activity data with regional figures may be of help for a more rational use of hospital resources.