Children’s HealthWatch found that 108 homeless children have been seen at the pediatric Emergency Department (ED) at Boston Medical Center since June 2012, and reported on some of their stories.

Impact of DHCD Emergency Assistance Regulations at Boston Medical Center’s Emergency Department

Since June 1, 2012  there have been at least 108 visits by children under 18 to the pediatric Emergency Department (ED) at Boston Medical Center due to homelessness. All of these children, representing 68 families,were evaluated for illness or injury, but many came simply because they had been turned away from shelter and didn’t have anywhere to go.

The impact of the new Emergency Assistance (EA) regulations on just one emergency department are evident in these examples. Personal identifiers have been changed to protect patient privacy.