When children and youth suffer from episodes of acute illnesses that require medical care or services beyond general checkups, different health care resources are often utilized. Such resources may make use of ambulatory or inpatient hospital settings. This chapter includes information on health care resources.

Significantly fewer children had emergency department visits in the past 12 months in 2008 compared to 2004. Similarly, fewer children had one or more overnight hospital stays in the past 12 months in 2008 compared to 2004.