Emergency department stay—physical departure time, hhmm

Guide for use:

Each emergency department stay should include a non-admitted patient emergency department service episode component. The value of the episode end status code should guide the selection of the value to be recorded in this field:

• If the patient is subsequently admitted then record the time the patient leaves the Emergency Department to go to the admitted patient facility. Physically moving the patient to a bed in an emergency department specialist care unit (including EMU, short stay ward, emergency care unit or observation unit) is defined as representing departure from the emergency department.
• If the service episode is completed without the patient being admitted, including referral to another hospital, record the time the patient leaves the Emergency Department.
• If the patient did not wait record the time the patient leaves the Emergency Department or was first noticed as having left.
• If the patient left at their own risk record the time the patient leaves the Emergency Department.
• If the patient died in the Emergency Department record the time of death.
• If the patient was dead on arrival then record the time of presentation at the Emergency Department.

Context:

Emergency department care.

Comments:
This data element has been developed for the purpose of State and Territory compliance with the Australian Health Care Agreement and the agreed national access performance indicator.