Madera, Calif.-based Valley Children's Healthcare became the state's busiest emergency department after seeing annual patient volume increase from 61,000 patients seven years ago to 114,172 patients last year, according to Bakersfield.com.
The hospital sees roughly 313 patients per day and turns over each of its 44 beds at least seven times per day, the report states.
Todd Suntrapak, president and CEO of Valley Children's Healthcare, said the increase reflects regional population growth, numerous partnerships with almost every hospital in California's San Joaquin Valley and a shortage of primary care pediatricians in the region.
"There is a population growth in terms of women of childbearing age having babies in excess of the replacement rate, and we're one of only two geographies in the state where that's the case," Mr. Suntrapak told Bakersfield.com.