Do we need labs to medically clear a patient for psych admission?

09/05/23 • 16 min

PEM Currents: The Pediatric Emergency Medicine Podcast

For most children requiring admission to an inpatient psychiatric facility laboratory studies are generally not required. Many of the children and adolescents being admitted already have an established mental or behavioral diagnosis, and a reassuring history and exam. The heterogeneity of clinical settings makes it challenging to establish processes that account for the needs of [...]

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Do children with bronchiolitis, croup, asthma, or first-time wheezing need a Chest X-Ray?

For most children with children with bronchiolitis, croup, asthma, or first-time wheezing chest X-Rays are not necessary. These X-Rays are often obtained due to the possibility of missing pneumonia. But, these radiographs are hard to interpret, increase length of stay and the cost of care, and expose children to excess radiation. This podcast episode is [...]

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Do we need labs or a head CT after simple febrile or unprovoked seizures?

Labs or CT scans are not necessary to provide additional diagnostic information or reassurance for most children who recover completely following simple febrile seizures or unprovoked first time generalized seizures. The rate of abnormalities on these studies is very low, and the cost and downsides are too high to justify ordering them on a regular [...]