About the measure
In this data update, the PHN Program Performance and Quality Framework indicator, Rate of GP style emergency department presentations, is referred to as ED presentations for lower urgency care. It is based on the NHA specifications ‘PI 19–Selected potentially avoidable GP-type presentations to emergency departments, 2022’ and presented by RA, SEIFA IRSD, PHN area and SA3. It includes disaggregation by age, sex, in-hours and after-hours presentations.
The PI 19 definition is for presentations at formal public hospital EDs where the patient:
- had an Emergency presentation type of visit
- had a Triage category of 4 (semi-urgent) or 5 (non-urgent)
- did not arrive by ambulance, or police or correctional vehicle
- was not admitted to the hospital, not referred to another hospital, or did not die.
Since 2011, there have been several reviews of the NHA PI 19: Selected potentially avoidable GP-type presentations to emergency departments indicator (including via the National Health Information Standards and Statistics Committee (NHISSC) working group). The reviews of the PI 19 indicator confirm there are a number of challenges and methodological issues to be considered:
- Care should be taken when using this data to identify ‘avoidable GP type’ or ‘GP style’ presentations because it is based on urgency (triage) categories which may not reflect the various factors that influence the use of EDs such as the complexity of a presentation, the patient’s choice or condition, the most appropriate model of care for such presentations, or the accessibility and availability of primary and community health services.
- The NNAPEDCD is restricted to formal public EDs, and as such does not include all emergency or urgent care provided in Australian hospitals. In particular, this may affect comparability of results for regional and remote areas.
- Although there are national standards for data on non-admitted patient ED presentations, the way those presentations are defined and counted varies across states and territories, and over time, which may affect comparability across local areas.