Disparities in utilization of outpatient surgical care among children

Study of 10,162 pediatric surgery patients reveals significant disparities in outpatient care utilization, with children from socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods, Black children, and publicly insured patients showing 2-3 times higher odds of missing clinic appointments. These access barriers persist even for critical postoperative visits, suggesting systemic inequities that may contribute to disparate surgical outcomes in vulnerable pediatric populations.