Delayed Family Reunification of Pediatric Disaster Survivors Increases Mortality and Inpatient Hospital Costs A Simulation Study

The authors used a mathematical simulation to examine how a delay in admitting and discharging pediatric cohort affects mortality and the cost of inpatient care. The authors note that children are often transported to specialty centers after disasters which leads to separation from the families. The results of the simulation argue for improvement in identification technology and logistics for rapid reunification of pediatric survivors with their families.