30% of parents only worry about child's health during emergencies, survey finds

Nearly a third (30 percent) of parents said they did not have time to worry about their children's health unless it was an emergency, according to a Nemours Children's Health System survey

The Harris Poll conducted an online survey on behalf of Nemours Children's Health System, polling 1,017 U.S. adults with children under the age of 18 from Oct. 9-14.

Sixty-five percent of parents said social determinants created significant barriers to familial wellness. Almost a third of parents (32 percent) missed a healthcare appointment in the past 12 months because they didn't have transportation or couldn't afford the appointment. About a quarter (23 percent) reported concern over running out of food for their family in the past year.  

Only 33 percent of parents said a healthcare professional or health insurer had asked about problems with safe housing, access to healthy food, access to quality child care, transportation needs, exposure to violence or employment in the past year. Most parents (69 percent) said they wanted their healthcare provider to connect them to community resources.

Of those screened for social determinants of health, 68 percent were referred to community services. However, 33 percent of those referred faced barriers — such as long waitlists, inability to pay for the extra service or lack of transportation — and did not receive the additional service.

Nemours Children's Health System recommends health systems increase screening of social determinants of health, build community partnerships to connect families with needed resources and align reimbursement around value-based care.

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