Does your child need the ER or urgent care? | Destiny Kanning | TEDxMSU

Health Literacy Crisis - Healthcare system faces a crisis of health literacy, impacting vulnerable families who rely on emergency services due to lack of awareness of other options [6][14] - A survey revealed that 53% of 523 families, caregivers, and parents could not correctly differentiate between a healthcare emergency versus a non-emergency [16] - Families from underprivileged and minoritized backgrounds were often unaware that urgent care was an option [16] Overutilization of Emergency Rooms - Annually, 75% to 105% million pediatric emergency visits are non-emergent, suitable for urgent care, primary care, or home care [9] - Hospitals experience $250 to 300 cases of overutilization monthly, resulting in approximately $1,200 out-of-pocket costs per family and $370,000 in wasted healthcare dollars annually [11] - Overutilization leads to 1,500 wasted care hours each month, impacting care for true medical emergencies [12] Proposed Solution: Education and Empowerment - Implementing a traffic light system (red for emergencies, yellow/orange for urgent care, green for primary care) increased understanding of affordable healthcare options by 68% [18][19][20] - Healthcare institutions and policymakers should prioritize health literacy programs in schools, clinics, and discharge protocols [23] - Communities and families should advocate for resources that enable informed healthcare decisions [24]