Report: Ailing kids face lengthy waits for medical care
January 15th, 2010From the Wall Street Journal:
Members of pediatric medical groups say there is a critical shortage of pediatric sub-specialists, forcing sick kids to face lengthy waits before they can get medical care. Among the reasons: lower salaries, shrinking Medicaid reimbursements, and a rising tide of children who survived premature births to live with ongoing and complex medical problems.
Of particular concern, given the rise in autism-related disorders, is a shortage of development-behavioral experts; half of hospitals in the survey reported that it takes more than three months to see a developmental pediatrics specialist, one of the longest wait times.
Families report that they often must wait months to see a needed specialist and may also have to travel long distances, often to another state.
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