Health Disparities in the Hospitalized Child

Health care disparities exist along the continuum of care for children admitted to the hospital; they start before admission, impact hospital course, and continue after discharge. During an acute illness, risk of admission, length of stay, hospital costs, communication during family-centered rounds, and risk of readmission have all been shown to vary by socioeconomic status, race, and ethnicity. Understanding factors beyond the acute illness that increase a child's risk of admission, increase hospital course complications, and lower discharge quality is imperative for the new generation of pediatric hospitalists focused on improving health for a population of children. In this article, we describe a framework to conceptualize socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic health disparities for the hospitalized child. Additionally, we offer actions pediatric hospitalists can take to address disparities within their practices.