children received appropriate medical care only 46 percent of the time when they visit health professionals, faring even worse than adults ...

U.S. children often lack quality medical care | By Tony Pugh | McClatchy Newspapers | * Posted on Wednesday, October 10, 2007

WASHINGTON — In the largest study of its kind, researchers found that America's children received appropriate medical care only 46 percent of the time when they visit health professionals, faring even worse than adults and raising serious questions about the quality of care delivered by the world's most expensive health system.
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It followed the health care experiences of 1,536 children from 12 metropolitan areas over a four-year period. By interviewing the youngsters' parents, reviewing the children's medical records and comparing their treatments to established care standards, researchers found that even basic care was a hit-or-miss proposition for children who visit hospitals and pediatricians.

The study found only 19 percent of seriously ill infants with fevers had the right lab tests done, only 44 percent of youngsters with asthma were on the right medications and only 38 percent of youngsters were screened for anemia in their first two years of life.

In addition, only 31 percent of children ages 3-6 have their weight measured at annual checkups.
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A 2006 RAND study found that adults get appropriate medical care about 55 percent of the time.
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But the new study found that youngsters get appropriate care for acute illnesses, such as fevers, only 68 percent of the time and proper care for chronic conditions, such as attention deficit disorder, only 53 percent of the time.

Proper preventative care, the bread and butter of pediatric practice, was provided in only 41 percent of check-ups. Researchers gauged quality of treatment against 175 standards of care that cover 12 clinical areas.

"It is unconscionable that we spend $2 trillion on health care, more than any nation in the world, and get these results," said co-author Elizabeth McGlynn, an associate director of RAND Health. "We can do better, but this will not happen without serious sustained effort. This study tells us that it is time to begin." ...