National non-admitted patient emergency department care data collection

National non-admitted patient emergency department care data collection | Main data elements included in this collection | Publications | Example of data from the NAPEDCD | National Non-admitted Patient Emergency Department Care Data service| Additional information and limitations

National non-admitted patient emergency department care database (NAPEDCD)

• The NAPEDCD is compiled from data supplied by the state and territory health authorities. It is a collection of electronic confidentialised summary records for non-admitted patients treated in public hospital emergency departments. 
• The scope of the collection is public hospitals that were categorised for the previous financial year as peer groups A (Principal referral and Specialist Women's and Children's hospitals) and B (Large hospitals).
• Some states and territories provided additional episode-level emergency department care data for hospitals classified to peer groups other than A and B. These data have been included in Australian hospital statistics 2006-07.
• The total number of occasions of service reported to the NAPEDCD for 2006-07 was 6.7 million. This represented all emergency department occasions of service for public hospitals in peer groups A and B and approximately 78% of total emergency department occasions of service.
• The National health data dictionary definitions form the basis of the database, ensuring a high standard of data comparability.

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Main data elements included in this collection

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The data elements listed below form part of the National Minimum Data Set for Non-admitted patient emergency department care.

• Type of visit to emergency department
• Triage category
• Date and time patient presents
• Emergency department waiting time to service delivery
• Length of non-admitted patient emergency department service episode
• Emergency department - arrival mode
• Emergency department - departure status
• Sex of patient
• Indigenous status of patient 
• Date of birth
• Area of usual residence
• Department of Veterans' Affairs patient
• Compensable patient

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Publications

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An annual report is published on hospital activity and operations. The current report, Australian hospital statistics 2006-07, includes analyses of the majority of the data elements included in these collections and hard copies are available for $42.00 from CanPrint

Chapter 5 Non-admitted patient emergency department care contains summary tables on various aspects of emergency department occasions of service. These include the proportion of patients by triage category, the proportion of patients seen within a clinically appropriate time and the proportion of patients subsequently admitted. Information is also included on the age, sex and Indigenous status of the patient as well as their mode of arrival to the emergency department and their status of departure. 

The episode-level data on emergency department occasions of service based on the Non-admitted patient emergency department care National Minimum Data Set are presented in

• Australian hospital statistics 2006-07(chapter 5)
• Australian Hospital Statistics 2005-06 (chapter 5)
• Australian Hospital Statistics 2004-05 (chapter 5)

Earlier summary data on emergency department occasions of service based on the Emergency department waiting times National Minimum Data Set have been reported and can be accessed online via the links below.

• Australian hospital statistics 2002-03 (Chapters 2 and 4)
• Australian hospital statistics 2001-02 (Chapters 2 and 4)

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Example of data from this collection (Figure 5.3, p121 of Australian hospital statistics 2006-07)

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Figure: Proportion of emergency department occasions of service, by hour of presentation and triage category, selected public hospitals, Australia, 2006-07

For more examples of data from the NAPEDCD go to Chapter 5 of Australian Hospital Statistics 2006-07.

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National non-admitted patient emergency department care data service

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The AIHW provides extracts of data from the National non-admitted patient emergency department care database (NAPEDCD) on request. A fee may apply. The amount charged will depend on the extract requirements and the complexity of the analysis undertaken.

Confidentialised data based on records included in the collection are available for a range of health service research and planning purposes.

To request data from this collection email Hospital Unit .

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Additional information and limitations

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• The national collation of non-admitted patient emergency department care data commenced with data for the 2003-04 financial year.
• The actual definitions used by the data providers may vary from year to year and between jurisdictions. Comparisons between the states and territories and reporting years should be therefore made with caution. In particular, the criteria used to determine the proportion of patients seen on time by triage category differed among jurisdictions.

Last reviewed on 13 June 2008