Significant nonmedical financial burden for families after child admitted to ICU

In the single-center study of parents of children admitted to the PICU for 2 or more days, researchers found work absenteeism across all families was 78 days, with high levels of distraction noted in those who did work due to the emotional stress of having a child in the PICU in addition to financial stressors. The mean out-of-pocket expense was $127, which varied among families regardless of length of stay or income level reported.

"The study found several strategies families used to reduce these nonmedical out-of-pocket expenses, including skipping meals, keeping a car at the hospital to use as a storage place for food and clothing, and choosing to sleep at the hospital with a child to avoid additional costs of food and travel," said Natan Noviski MD, Chief of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. "The study revealed a significant opportunity for PICU staff and hospitals to reduce the burden of nonmedical out of pocket expenses to aid families in these difficult situations."