The episode end status should guide the selection of the value to be recorded in this field:
If the patient is subsequently admitted to this hospital (either short stay unit, hospital-in-the-home or non-emergency department hospital ward), then record the date the patient leaves the emergency department to go to the admitted patient facility.
Patients admitted to any other ward or bed within the emergency department have not physically departed the emergency department until they leave the emergency department.
If the patient is admitted and subsequently dies before leaving the emergency department, then record the date the body was removed from the emergency department.
If the service episode is completed without the patient being admitted, then record the date the patient's emergency department non-admitted clinical care ended.
If the service episode is completed and the patient is referred to another hospital for admission, then record the date the patient leaves the emergency department.
If the patient did not wait, then record the date the patient leaves the emergency department or was first noticed as having left.
If the patient leaves at their own risk, then record the date the patient leaves the emergency department or was first noticed as having left.
If the patient died in the emergency department, then record the date the body was removed from the emergency department.
If the patient was dead on arrival, then record the date the body was removed from the emergency department. If an emergency department physician certified the death of the patient outside the emergency department, then record the date the patient was certified dead.
Collection methods:
Collected in conjunction with emergency department physical departure time.
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.
Source and reference attributes
Submitting organisation:
Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
