All children need a secure, safe, and stable environment as they grow up. Young kids must have the care and support they need to aid in their development. But children with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are especially prone to struggling as they age if they don’t have stability.
While stability and support can come from a child’s housing situation and those who raise them, they also need quality care from the doctors in their lives. A lack of secure, safe, and stable healthcare for children with ACEs can impact them just as much as a lack of a stable living situation.
Unfortunately, in recent years, shortages in the healthcare industry have been on the rise. While this is a problem for everyone, it is especially problematic for more vulnerable populations, such as young children dealing with trauma and ACEs.
The Current Healthcare Shortage Crisis
Healthcare shortages happen now and then, but the past few years have been particularly hard on healthcare workers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, more healthcare staff than ever are facing burnout and are leaving their jobs, leading to a severe shortage in the industry.
Since 2020, an estimated 18% of healthcare staff have quit their jobs. However, even before the pandemic began, healthcare workers were already burnt out and struggling to keep up with the demands being placed on them.
For many, the extreme stress of working during the pandemic spurred them to quit. But the problem was also worsened by employers lowering salaries, not approving as much time off, and requiring longer shifts.
Another issue is that many physicians today are from the Baby Boomer generation, meaning they are preparing to retire or already have retired. As a result, the industry is expected to lose over 100,000 physicians over the next ten years. In addition, nearly 30% of nurses will also reach retirement age in the next few years.
Again, this is a major concern for anyone needing healthcare services, but it is particularly problematic for those at higher risk of suffering. Elderly patients, for example, could suffer as a result of this shortage, but it will also negatively impact children with ACEs.
ACEs and the Physician Shortage
According to the National Survey of Children’s Health, almost 35 million children in the US alone are impacted by ACEs. Additionally, the CDC shows that 61% of adults are impacted by traumatic events they experienced in childhood. And the concern is that as children grow up without the support they need, their unaddressed trauma can lead to long-term physical and mental health issues.
The cost of care from ACEs in America is also expensive. From the same link above, the CDC estimates that if ACEs were addressed and if children received the healthcare they needed earlier on, reducing ACEs by 10%, it could lead to annual savings of $56 billion.
So what exactly constitutes an ACE? First, it helps to understand ACEs before examining how physician shortages impact them.
In the simplest terms, an ACE is a traumatic event that occurs in childhood — typically between birth and the age of 17. These traumatic experiences often stem from family dysfunction, abuse, or neglect. But medical experts claim that ACEs can also occur as a result of housing insecurity and a lack of healthcare.
Not addressing these issues in childhood can lead to long-term physical and mental health problems as the traumatized child grows up. Because of the cost and negative effects of ACEs, screening for adverse childhood experiences is increasing. However, the physician shortage means that even if children are screened, they still won’t necessarily get the treatment they need.
But adequate treatment and early intervention for ACEs are crucial. The CDC says that physicians play a crucial role in mitigating childhood trauma. And if a child has already experienced a traumatic event, healthcare professionals are necessary to prevent that trauma from affecting the child later in life.
Long-Term Risks if Children with ACEs Don’t Get the Treatment They Need
ACEs can have serious long-term effects on the health and well-being of children as they age. Traumatic childhood events can also play a role in a child's life opportunities, education, and potential as they grow into adulthood.
For example, children that grow up with high levels of stress from repressed trauma can have a more challenging time forming healthy relationships, both personally and at work. High-stress levels have also been shown to lead to health issues, such as anxiety or diseases like GERD.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can lead to a number of bothersome symptoms, which can cause other serious problems if not addressed, such as difficulty swallowing, asthma, trouble sleeping, chest pain, and gum disease.
ACEs are also linked to higher rates of numerous other health problems, such as STIs, chronic diseases, heart problems, and even cancer. There have also been connections made between ACEs and the development of diabetes.
Adults who experienced ACEs and did not receive the treatment they needed are also more likely to struggle with depression and suicide, as well as other issues that can affect their ability to have a stable life. For example, studies show that those who experienced trauma early in life may have a harder time with money and suffer from financial instability and failure in their careers.
Wrapping Up
Though physicians today are overworked and burnt out, it is crucial that they find ways to better incorporate care for ACEs into their practice. Not only do ACEs directly affect the children who experience them, but the issues they cause, both mentally and physically, can be passed down generationally. So if intervention isn’t provided early on, ACEs-related health complications could turn into a serious health crisis.
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