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Child Welfare: The Phantom of the Health Care System

Child Welfare: The Phantom of the Health Care System Abstract Sir.—The problem of infants requiring prolonged hospitalization for lack of appropriate discharge placements has resulted in a new population of children receiving medical care. These children have been called "boarder babies," and their numbers are steadily increasing. On a given day in Philadelphia, Pa, 70 boarder babies are in hospitals awaiting discharge. They limit access to medical care for other children by occupying beds and increasing the hospitals' operating costs. This is one of the most insidious side effects of the current crack cocaine epidemic, resulting in the abandonment of numerous infants in hospitals. It has resulted in what one author describes as "the youngest of the homeless."1 A June 1989 survey1 by the Child Welfare League of America of hospitals in five American cities identified 304 boarder babies in the 54 hospitals reporting cases. At least 69% of the identified babies showed signs of impairment due References 1. Munns JM. The youngest of the homeless: characteristics of hospital boarder babies in five cities. Presented at the Child Welfare League of America; August 2, 1989. 2. Philadelphia, Pa, City Council Operating Budget Hearings, April 23, 1990 (testimony of Joan M. Reeves, commissioner of the Department of Human Services, Philadelphia). http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png American Journal of Diseases of Children American Medical Association

Child Welfare: The Phantom of the Health Care System

Child Welfare: The Phantom of the Health Care System

Abstract

Abstract Sir.—The problem of infants requiring prolonged hospitalization for lack of appropriate discharge placements has resulted in a new population of children receiving medical care. These children have been called "boarder babies," and their numbers are steadily increasing. On a given day in Philadelphia, Pa, 70 boarder babies are in hospitals awaiting discharge. They limit access to medical care for other children by occupying beds and increasing the hospitals'...
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Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1991 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0002-922X
DOI
10.1001/archpedi.1991.02160080017001
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Abstract Sir.—The problem of infants requiring prolonged hospitalization for lack of appropriate discharge placements has resulted in a new population of children receiving medical care. These children have been called "boarder babies," and their numbers are steadily increasing. On a given day in Philadelphia, Pa, 70 boarder babies are in hospitals awaiting discharge. They limit access to medical care for other children by occupying beds and increasing the hospitals' operating costs. This is one of the most insidious side effects of the current crack cocaine epidemic, resulting in the abandonment of numerous infants in hospitals. It has resulted in what one author describes as "the youngest of the homeless."1 A June 1989 survey1 by the Child Welfare League of America of hospitals in five American cities identified 304 boarder babies in the 54 hospitals reporting cases. At least 69% of the identified babies showed signs of impairment due References 1. Munns JM. The youngest of the homeless: characteristics of hospital boarder babies in five cities. Presented at the Child Welfare League of America; August 2, 1989. 2. Philadelphia, Pa, City Council Operating Budget Hearings, April 23, 1990 (testimony of Joan M. Reeves, commissioner of the Department of Human Services, Philadelphia).

Journal

American Journal of Diseases of ChildrenAmerican Medical Association

Published: Aug 1, 1991

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