www.insurancenewsnet.com/article.asp?a=top_lh&id=97513 -
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Published on: 8/21/2008
Last Visited: 8/22/2008
Uninsured children generally end up at the emergency room when they have medical problems, said Dr. A. Chris Olson, medical director for Sacred Heart Children's Hospital.That's the most expensive option, he said, and as a result, those children don't develop relationships with pediatricians who understand their medical history, don't receive needed vaccinations, and are not screened for a host of problems better treated with early detection, including developmental delays, hearing loss and vision problems.
Healthy children do better in school and are more likely to become employed as adults, Olson said.
"There's a whole group of kids in our community that are silent, that we don't see, that aren't getting the preventative services," Olson said.