Journal of Emergencies, Trauma and Shock
Volume 12, Issue 1, 2019, Pages 54-57

Costs and Characteristics of Undocumented Immigrants Brought to a Trauma Center by Border Patrol Agents in Southern Texas (Article)

Kane E. , Richman P.* , Xu K. , Krall S. , Blow O.
  • a Department of Emergency Medicine, CHRISTUS Spohn/Texas A and M Health Science Center, 600 Elizabeth St, 9B, Corpus Christi, TX 78404, United States
  • b Department of Emergency Medicine, CHRISTUS Spohn/Texas A and M Health Science Center, 600 Elizabeth St, 9B, Corpus Christi, TX 78404, United States
  • c Department of Emergency Medicine, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States
  • d Department of Emergency Medicine, CHRISTUS Spohn/Texas A and M Health Science Center, 600 Elizabeth St, 9B, Corpus Christi, TX 78404, United States
  • e Department of Acute Care Surgery, Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital, Corpus Christi, TX, United States

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the costs, characteristics, and outcomes of patients brought to a Texas trauma center emergenct department after apprehension by Border Patrol (BP)/Immigration and Customs Enforcement (BP/ICE). Materials and Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a trauma registry/financial records (1/1/11-12/31/14). Data were extracted utilizing a structured form. A multivariate ordinary least square was estimated to identify variables associated with hospital charges. Results: A total of 128 patients were enrolled as the study group; mean age was 28.6 ± 6 years, 20.3% were female, 100% were Hispanic, the most common mechanism of injury (MOI) was motor vehicle crash (75%), and mean charge was $162,152 ± $295,441. Mean length of stay (LOS) was 13.2 ± 29.8 days; 92.2% survived to discharge. Bivariate analysis revealed that MOI differed by gender (P = 0.021). In the multivariate analysis, the only variable that associated with increased charge was LOS. Total charges for the 128 patients were $20.6M, total costs were $4.5M, and total payments were $0.99M. Conclusions: Undocumented immigrants apprehended by BP/ICE and brought to our trauma center utilized significant health-care resources. © 2019 Journal of Emergencies, Trauma, and Shock Published by Wolters Kluwer - Medknow.

Author Keywords

Illegal immigration Undocumented immigrants Cost trauma

Index Keywords

least square analysis immigration human motor vehicle controlled study length of stay undocumented immigrant Hispanic male female Article bivariate analysis hospital charge major clinical study adult gender emergency health service outcome assessment secondary analysis Texas
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85064826682&doi=10.4103%2fJETS.JETS_29_18&partnerID=40&md5=ba1e9fff6053ffb5eabf29ee907bd5d5
DOI: 10.4103/JETS.JETS_29_18
ISSN: 09742700
Original Language: English