PLACE OF PHYSICIAN CONTACT

In 2004, a doctor’s office or HMO was the usual place of sick care (not including routine or preventive care) for nearly 79 percent of children in the United States, a rate that varies by age and family income. Children with family incomes above the poverty level were more likely to visit a doctor’s office or HMO for sick care than children with family incomes below the Federal poverty level. While this discrepancy was evident within all age groups, it was most pronounced among children aged 5 to 12 years. Within this age group, 82.0 percent of children with family incomes above the poverty level went to a doctor’s office or HMO compared to 59.5 percent of children in poverty. Moreover, poor children were more likely to visit a clinic or health center for sick care (38.3 percent versus 16.4 percent of 5- to 12-year-olds). Only a small proportion of children used a hospital emergency room or outpatient department as a source of sick care, but children in all age groups with family incomes below the poverty level were more likely to do so than children with higher family incomes.

Younger children were more likely than older children to visit clinics or health centers, hospital emergency rooms, and hospital outpatient departments when sick. Use of a doctor’s office or HMO as a source of sick care increased with age.

> Bar Charts: Place of Physician Contact, by Age and Poverty Level: 2004