A study has found that repeat ED visits prior to admission appear to be common among children with meningitis or septicemia. More than 20% of these patients had repeat ED visits before admission in the analysis. However, children admitted on their initial ED visit and those with repeat ED visits had similar lengths of stay, critical care use, and mortality. Repeat visits were associated with older age, less acute triage score, and an initial visit to a community hospital without available pediatric consultation.
