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Healthcare Quarterly

Emergency departmentActivity and performance

January to March 2018

BUREAU OF HEALTH INFORMATION Level 11, 67 Albert Avenue Chatswood NSW 2067 Australia Telephone: +61 2 9464 4444 bhi.nsw.gov.au

© Copyright Bureau of Health Information 2018 This work is copyrighted. It may be reproduced in whole or in part for study or training purposes subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgement of the source. It may not be reproduced for commercial usage or sale. Reproduction for purposes other than those indicated above requires written permission from the Bureau of Health Information.

State Health Publication Number: (BHI) 180362 ISSN: 2207-9556 (print); 2207-9564 (online)

Suggested citation: Bureau of Health Information. Healthcare Quarterly, Activity and performance – Emergency department, ambulance, admitted patients and elective surgery, January to March 2018. Sydney (NSW); BHI; 2018.

Please note there is the potential for minor revisions of data in this report. Please check the online version at bhi.nsw.gov.au for any amendments.

Published June 2018

Healthcare Quarterly reports present data at the point in time when data become available to BHI. Changes in data coverage and analytic methods from quarter to quarter mean that figures published in this document are superseded by subsequent reports. At any time, the most up-to-date data are available on BHI’s online interactive data portal, Healthcare Observer, at bhi.nsw.gov.au/healthcare_observer

The conclusions in this report are those of BHI and no official endorsement by the NSW Minister for Health, the NSW Ministry of Health or any other NSW public health organisation is intended or should be inferred.

Table of contents

In summary 1

Emergency department activity and performance 4

Emergency department presentations 5

Time to treatment 7

Percentage of patients whose treatment started on time 9

After leaving the emergency department 11

Median time patients spent in the emergency department 13

Percentage of patient stays of four hours or less 15

Percentage of patient stays of four hours or less – peer group variation 17

Transfer of care from the ambulance to the emergency department 19

Healthcare Quarterly – Emergency department, January to March 2018 bhi.nsw.gov.au

Emergency department

of patients’ treatmentstarted on time

There were 714,101emergency department presentations

of patients spentfour hours or less in theemergency department

76.2%

74.4%

1.6UP

%

11,041 more than

same quarter last year

Ambulance

There were 279,390ambulance responses

94.6% of priority 1 cases had acall to ambulance arrival time

of 30 minutes or less

0.8UP

2,172 more than

same quarter last year

%

0.5

UP

PERCENTAGE POINTS

0.6

UP

PERCENTAGE POINTS

In the January to March 2018 quarter...

Note: All comparisons are in reference to the same quarter last year.

1 Healthcare Quarterly – Emergency department, January to March 2018 bhi.nsw.gov.au

Emergency department activityJanuary to

March 2018January to

March 2017 Difference % change

All arrivals at NSW EDs by ambulance 154,876 149,729 5,147 3.4%

All ED presentations 714,101 703,060 11,041 1.6%

Emergency presentations 688,837 676,380 12,457 1.8%

Emergency presentations by triage category

T1: Resuscitation 4,609 4,326 283 6.5%

T2: Emergency 87,346 81,676 5,670 6.9%

T3: Urgent 235,072 227,339 7,733 3.4%

T4: Semi-urgent 287,988 286,698 1,290 <1%

T5: Non-urgent 73,822 76,341 -2,519 -3.3%

Admissions to hospital from NSW EDs 181,999 177,911 4,088 2.3%

Triage category

January toMarch 2018

January toMarch 2017 Difference

Percentage of patients transferred from ambulance to ED within 30 minutes 92.1% 91.5% +0.6 percentage points

Median 8 mins 8 mins unchanged

90th percentile 23 mins 26 mins -3 mins





Median 22 mins 21 mins 1 mins


76.2% 75.7% +0.5 percentage points





2h 42m 2h 40m 2 mins

6h 49m 7h 1m -12 mins

74.4% 73.8% + 0.6 percentage points

Emergency department performance

Time to treatmentby triage category

T2: Emergency

T3: Urgent

T4: Semi-urgent

T5: Non-urgent

90th percentile time spent in the ED

Percentage of patients who spent four hours or less in the ED

Percentage ofpatients whose treatment startedon time

All patients

T3: Urgent (Recommended: 75% in 30 minutes)

T4: Semi-urgent (Recommended: 70% in 60 minutes)

T5: Non-urgent (Recommended: 70% in 120 minutes)

Median time spent in the ED

T2: Emergency (Recommended: 80% in 10 minutes)

Note: Data drawn from the Emergency Department Data Collection on 17 April 2018.Triage 1 patients are the most urgent and are almost all treated within two minutes. Clinicians are focused on providing immediate and essential care, rather than recording times, therefore times to start treatment are generally not reported. Timeframes to treat other triage categories are recommended by the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine.

2Healthcare Quarterly – Emergency department, January to March 2018 bhi.nsw.gov.au

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Emergency department activity and performance


During the January to March 2018 quarter, there were 714,101 visits to NSW public hospital emergency departments (ED), up 1.6% compared with the same quarter last year. Of these attendances, most were classified as ‘emergency’ presentations (688,837 patients, 96.5%) (Figure 1). The remaining 25,264 patients presented to ED for non-emergency reasons such as a planned return visit. The number of ambulance arrivals increased by 5,147 to 154,876, up 3.4% over the same quarter last year (Figure 1).

With the exception of triage category 5, the number of emergency presentations was higher in the January to March 2018 quarter. Notably, triage categories 2 and 3 were up by 5,670 (6.9%) and 7,733 (3.4%) presentations, respectively (Figure 1).

The number of emergency presentations by triage category showed rising trends over a five-year period. Part of this is due to drivers such as population growth and by the addition of hospitals to Healthcare Quarterly as their data become available. The bar graph at the bottom of Figure 2 shows how the number of hospitals included in the report has increased over time. Further information on hospital inclusions is available in the Technical supplement.

Compared with the same quarter last year, the number of total attendances was higher in 51 out of 78 EDs. Of these, four had an increase of more than 10%. Total attendances were down by more than 5% in nine EDs.

Hospitals identified in Figure 3 had more than 5,000 ED presentations this quarter and more than 5% change in the number of presentations compared with the same quarter last year.

Emergency department presentations

This quarterSame quarter

last yearChange sinceone year ago

All ED presentations 714,101 703,060 1.6%

Emergency presentations by triage category 688,837 676,380 1.8%

Triage 1: Resuscitation 4,609 4,326 6.5%

Triage 2: Emergency 87,346 81,676 6.9%

Triage 3: Urgent 235,072 227,339 3.4%

Triage 4: Semi-urgent 287,988 286,698 0.4%

Triage 5: Non-urgent 73,822 76,341 -3.3%

Ambulance arrivals 154,876 149,729 3.4%

0.7%

12.7%

34.1%

41.8%

10.7%

Figure 1 Emergency department presentations and ambulance arrivals, January to March 2018

Note: In the January to March 2018 quarter, 44 small district hospitals were included in Healthcare Quarterly after being recently added to the Emergency Department Data Collection. These EDs contributed 19,562 attendances to the NSW total. Further information on inclusions and the implications for trend analyses is available in the Technical supplement.


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Blacktown

Wollongong

Byron Central

Manning

Campbelltown

Lismore

Liverpool

Shoalhaven

Wagga Wagga

Mount DruittHawkesbury

Shellharbour

Prince of Wales

Sydney Children's

Tamworth

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0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000 14,000 16,000 18,000 20,000 22,000 24,000

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(%)

Number of presentations

A1 A2 A3 B C1 C2Peer group: Less than 5% change

Dec

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Incr

easi

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3,473 3,730 3,736 4,067 4,326 4,609

59,868 65,96771,401 75,801 81,676 87,346

181,653 189,669 199,600214,857

227,339 235,072257,214

267,199 273,367 280,480 286,698 287,988

73,095 74,98871,386 70,980 76,341 73,822

0

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Triage 1 Triage 2 Triage 3 Triage 4 Triage 5

117 117 117 117 131 131 131 131 131 131 131 131 131 130 131 131 175 175 175 175 175

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Figure 2 Emergency presentations by triage category, January 2013 to March 2018

Figure 3 Change in number of all emergency department presentations compared with the same quarter last year, hospitals by peer group, January to March 2018


Upon arrival at the ED, patients are allocated to one of five triage categories, based on urgency. For each category, the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine recommends a threshold waiting time within which treatment should start:

• Triage 1: Resuscitation (within two minutes)

• Triage 2: Emergency (80% within 10 minutes)

• Triage 3: Urgent (75% within 30 minutes)

• Triage 4: Semi-urgent (70% within 60 minutes)

• Triage 5: Non-urgent (70% within 120 minutes).

In the January to March 2018 quarter, the median time from arriving at the ED to starting treatment was unchanged in triage categories 2, 3 and 4. The 90th percentile times dropped by two to four minutes across all triage categories (Figure 4).

Trends by triage category showed shorter or unchanged median and 90th percentile times to treatment. The bar graphs at the bottom of Figures 5 and 6 contextualise some of these trends by showing how the number of hospitals included in the report has increased over time. Further information on hospital inclusions is available in the Technical supplement.

Time to treatment

Thisquarter

Same quarter last year

Change since one year ago

Triage 2 Emergency (e.g. chest pain, severe burns): 86,277 patients

Median time to start treatment 8m 8m unchanged

90th percentile time to start treatment 23m 26m -3m

Triage 3 Urgent (e.g. moderate blood loss, dehydration): 229,499 patients


90th percentile time to start treatment 1h 5m 1h 8m -3m

Triage 4 Semi-urgent (e.g. sprained ankle, earache): 267,882 patients



Triage 5 Non-urgent (e.g. small cuts or abrasions): 63,766 patients

Median time to start treatment 22m 21m 1m


Figure 4 Time from presentation to starting treatment, by triage category, January to March 2018

Triage 1 patients are the most urgent and are almost all treated within two minutes. Clinicians are focused on providing immediate and essential care, rather than recording times, therefore times to start treatment are generally not reported. Timeframes to treat other triage categories are recommended by the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine.


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8m 8m 8m 8m 8m 8m

21m 20m 20m 20m 20m 20m

28m26m 26m 26m 25m 25m

26m 23m24m 23m

21m 22m

0m

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10m

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25m

30m

35m

Tim

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utes

T2: Emergency T3: Urgent T4: Semi-urgent T5: Non-urgent

117 117 117 117 131 131 131 131 131 131 131 131 131 130 131 131 175 175 175 175 175

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Figure 5 Median time from presentation to starting treatment, by triage category, January 2013 to March 2018

23m 22m 24m 24m 26m 23m

1h 15m1h 5m 1h 8m 1h 8m 1h 8m 1h 5m

1h 54m1h 41m 1h 41m 1h 41m

1h 40m1h 38m1h 52m

1h 40m 1h 42m1h 41m

1h 41m

1h 37m

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Tim

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T2: Emergency T3: Urgent T4: Semi-urgent T5: Non-urgent

117 117 117 117 131 131 131 131 131 131 131 131 131 130 131 131 175 175 175 175 175

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Figure 6 90th percentile time from presentation to starting treatment, by triage category, January 2013 to March 2018



last year

Percentage point change since one

year ago

All emergency presentations 75.7% 0.5

Triage category 2 66.3% 2.2




76.2%

68.5%

71.2%

78.7%

93.8%

Recommended: 80% in 10 minutes




In the January to March 2018 quarter, 76.2% of ED patients’ treatment started within clinically recommended timeframes, 0.5 percentage points higher than the same quarter last year (Figure 7).

Higher percentages of patients starting treatment within recommended timeframes were recorded across all triage categories. Triage category 2 was up 2.2 percentage points to 68.5% (Figure 7).

Trends by triage category showed seasonality and variability in the percentage of patients starting treatment on time. The bar graphs at the bottom of Figure 8 contextualise some of these trends by showing how the number of hospitals included in the report has increased over time. Further information on hospital inclusions is available in the Technical supplement.

Figure 9 shows hospital results for this quarter on two axes: the percentage of patients whose treatment started on time (Y-axis), and the percentage point change since the same quarter last year (X-axis). For hospitals shown above the blue NSW line, a higher percentage of patients started treatment on time compared with the overall NSW result. For hospitals below this line, a lower

percentage of patients’ treatment started on time compared with the overall NSW result. Hospitals shown to the left of the vertical ‘0’ line had lower results compared with the same quarter last year, while those shown to the right of the vertical line had higher results.

Hospitals labelled in Figure 9 are those that had more than a five percentage point change compared with the same quarter last year.

The percentage of patients whose treatment started on time was higher this quarter for 40 out of 78 hospitals. Eleven hospitals were up by more than five percentage points and 11 hospitals were down by more than five percentage points (Figure 9).

Figure 7 Percentage of patients whose treatment started on time, by triage category, January to March 2018

Percentage of patients whose treatment started on time

Note: Triage 1 patients are the most urgent and are almost all treated within two minutes. Clinicians are focused on providing immediate and essential care, rather than recording times, therefore times to start treatment are generally not reported. Timeframes to treat other triage categories are recommended by the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine.

Due to differences in data definitions, Healthcare Quarterly results for the percentage of patients whose treatment started on time are not directly comparable with figures reported by other jurisdictions. For more information refer to the Technical supplements section of the BHI website at bhi.nsw.gov.au.


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69.6 70.467.3 67.6 66.3

68.567.2

70.969.6 69.9 70.6 71.2

74.9 78.0 77.9 77.7 78.4 78.7

91.693.6 93.3 93.4 93.4 93.8

73.776.6 75.5 75.4 75.7 76.2

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Figure 8 Percentage of patients whose treatment started on time, by triage category, January 2013 to March 2018

Westmead

Maclean

Mount DruittSingleton

Blacktown

South East Regional

DubboGrafton

Byron CentralJohn Hunter

Inverell

Prince of WalesManning

Gosford

Cowra

Gunnedah

Goulburn

Bowral

Broken Hill

Coffs Harbour

Nepean

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Decrease Increase

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A1 A2 A3 B C1 C2Peer group: NSW

Figure 9 Percentage of patients whose treatment started on time, and percentage point change since same quarter last year, hospitals by peer group, January to March 2018


After leaving the emergency department

Following treatment in the ED, the majority of patients are either discharged home or admitted to hospital. Some patients choose not to wait for treatment and leave, and others are transferred to a different hospital. Collectively, these categories are referred to as the ‘mode of separation’.

During the January to March 2018 quarter, 65.1% of patients were treated and discharged from the ED (465,207, up 1.6%) and 25.5% of patients were treated and admitted to hospital (181,999, up 2.3%). Compared with the same quarter last year, 687 fewer patients left the ED without, or before completing, treatment (37,841, down 1.8%) (Figure 10).

Around three-quarters of patients in triage category 1 and more than half of the patients in triage category 2 were admitted to hospital (75.7% and 51.8%, respectively) (Figure 11). In triage categories 3, 4 and 5, most patients were treated and discharged (Figure 12).

The number of emergency presentations by mode of separation showed general rising trends over a five-year period. Part of this is due to drivers such as population growth and by the addition of hospitals to Healthcare Quarterly as their data become available. The bar graph at the bottom of Figure 13 shows how the number of hospitals included in the report has increased over time. Further information on hospital inclusions is available in the Technical supplement.


last yearChange sinceone year ago

Treated and discharged 465,207 457,736 1.6%

Treated and admitted to hospital 181,999 177,911 2.3%

Left without, or before completing, treatment 37,841 38,528 -1.8%

Transferred to another hospital 15,494 15,271 1.5%

Other 13,560 13,614 -0.4%

65.1%

25.5%

5.3%

2.2%

1.9%

Figure 10 Patients who presented to the emergency department, by mode of separation, January to March 2018

Thisquarter

Same quarterlast year

Percentage point change sinceone year ago

All ED presentations 25.3% 0.2

Triage 1 75.3% 0.4

Triage 2 52.7% -0.9

Triage 3 36.8% -0.2

Triage 4 14.6% -0.2

Triage 5 4.6% -0.1

25.5%

75.7%

51.8%

36.6%

14.4%

4.5%

Figure 11 Percentage of patients who were treated and admitted, by triage category, January to March 2018


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397,016418,085 427,461 442,957 457,736 465,207

141,311 153,840 160,463 167,882 177,911 181,999

38,121 33,323 34,019 36,691 38,528 37,84111,475 12,141 12,848 13,603 15,271 15,494

0

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Treated anddischarged

Treated and admittedto hospital

Patient left without, or beforecompleting, treatment

Transferred toanother hospital

117 117 117 117 131 131 131 131 131 131 131 131 131 130 131 131 175 175 175 175 175

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Figure 12 Percentage of patients who were treated and discharged, by triage category, January to March 2018

Thisquarter

Same quarterlast year

Percentage point change sinceone year ago

All ED presentations 65.2% 0.0

Triage 1 13.3% -0.4

Triage 2 39.5% 0.5

Triage 3 55.6% 0.4

Triage 4 75.2% 0.4

Triage 5 81.9% 0.6

65.2%

12.9%

40.0%

56.0%

75.6%

82.5%

Figure 13 Patients who presented to the emergency department, by mode of separation, January 2013 to March 2018


The median time that patients spent in the ED during the January to March 2018 quarter was two hours and 42 minutes – up two minutes compared with the same quarter last year. In triage category 2, the median and 90th percentile times spent in the ED fell by 5 and 45 minutes to three hours and 47 minutes and nine hours and 19 minutes, respectively (Figure 14).

Median time patients spent in the emergency department

Thisquarter


Change since one year ago

Median time spent in the ED 2h 42m 2h 40m 2m

90th percentile time spent in the ED 6h 49m 7h 1m -12m

Triage 2 Emergency (e.g. chest pain, severe burns):

Triage 2 Median 3h 47m 3h 52m -5m

Triage 2 90th percentile 9h 19m 10h 4m -45m

Triage 3 Urgent (e.g. moderate blood loss, dehydration)

Triage 3 Median 3h 27m 3h 28m -1m


Triage 4 Semi-urgent (e.g. sprained ankle, earache)

Triage 4 Median 2h 16m 2h 15m 1m


Triage 5 Non-urgent (e.g. small cuts or abrasions)

Triage 5 Median 1h 8m 1h 6m 2m

Triage 5 90th percentile 3h 28m 3h 27m 1m

Figure 14 Time patients spent in the emergency department, January to March 2018


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2h 22m 2h 9m 2h 10m 2h 12m 2h 11m 2h 13m

5h 25m

4h 23m 4h 31m 4h 33m 4h 36m 4h 28m

1h 42m 1h 35m 1h 34m 1h 35m 1h 39m 1h 44m

4h 46m

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Figure 15 Median time patients spent in the emergency department, by mode of separation, January 2013 to March 2018

Since January to March 2017, the median time to departure rose by five minutes among patients who left without, or before completing, treatment (Figure 15).

All other trends showed overall declines over a five-year period. The bar graph at the bottom of Figure 15 contextualises some of these trends by showing how the number of hospitals included in the report has increased over time. Further information on hospital inclusions is available in the Technical Supplement.


Almost three-quarters (74.4%) of patients spent four hours or less in the ED during the January to March 2018 quarter, 0.6 percentage points higher than the same quarter last year (Figure 16).

Patients who require admission to hospital from the ED usually have more complex health needs than those who are treated and discharged, and therefore often spend longer periods in the ED. Less than half of these patients left within four hours (45.5%).

Patients who left without, or before completing, treatment were the only group to see a drop in the percentage leaving in four hours (88.9%; down 1.6 percentage points) (Figure 16). The bar graph at the bottom of Figure 17 contextualises the trends in the percentage of patients leaving within four hours by showing how the number of hospitals included in the report has increased over time. Further information on hospital inclusions is available in the Technical supplement.

NumberThis

quarterSame quarter

last year

Percentage pointchange sinceone year ago

All ED presentations 531,185 73.8% 0.6

Treated and discharged 394,239 84.3% 0.4

Treated and admitted 82,796 44.0% 1.5

Left without, or before completing, treatment 33,640 90.5% -1.6

Transferred to another hospital 7,459 47.6% 0.5

74.4%

84.7%

45.5%

88.9%

48.1%

Figure 16 Percentage of patients who spent four hours or less in the emergency department, by mode of separation, January to March 2018

Percentage of patient stays of four hours or less

Figure 18 maps hospital results this quarter compared with the same quarter last year. Hospitals labelled are those that had a change of more than five percentage points in the proportion of patients who spent four hours or less in the ED, compared with the same quarter last year.

Due to differences in data definitions, period of reporting and the number of hospitals included, Healthcare Quarterly results for the percentage of patients who spent four hours or less in the ED are not directly comparable with figures reported by the NSW Ministry of Health or the Commonwealth. For more information refer to the Technical supplements section of the BHI website at bhi.nsw.gov.au


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76.683.9 84.6 84.6 84.3 84.7

33.8

46.3 45.0 44.4 44.0 45.5

87.991.4 91.7 91.5 90.5 88.9

42.049.0 46.7 45.4 47.6 48.1

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Figure 17 Percentage of patients who spent four hours or less in the emergency department, by mode of separation, January 2013 to March 2018

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Figure 18 Percentage of patients who spent four hours or less in the emergency department, and percentage point change since same quarter last year, hospitals by peer group, January to March 2018


There was variation between and within hospital peer groups in the percentage of patients who spent four hours or less in the ED. Peer group results followed a gradient with a higher percentage of patients who spent four hours or less in EDs in

Percentage of patient stays of four hours or less – peer group variation

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Figure 19 Percentage of patients who spent four hours or less in the emergency department, by peer group, January to March 2018

Peer group result NSW result

smaller district hospitals (peer group C2) versus the principal referral hospitals (peer group A1) (Figure 19).


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Figure 20 Percentage of patients who spent four hours or less in the emergency department, by peer group, January 2013 to March 2018

same quarter in 2013 showed that the percentage of patients leaving the ED within four hours in peer groups A1 and B was up by 10.9 and 7.4 percentage points, respectively. Further information on hospital inclusions is available in the Technical supplement.


A total of 154,876 patients arrived at NSW EDs by ambulance (up 3.4% compared with the same quarter last year) during the January to March 2018 quarter. Transfer of care time was calculated using 136,046 patient records (matched between ambulance service and ED records) (Figure 21).

The median and 90th percentile transfer of care times from ambulance paramedics to ED staff were unchanged and shorter compared with the same quarter last year (Figure 21).

Transfer of care from the ambulance to the emergency department

Thisquarter


Change sinceone year ago

Emergency presentations 688,837 676,380 1.8%

Ambulance arrivals (number used to calculate transfer of care time) 136,046 129,698 4.9%

ED transfer of care time

Median time 11m 11m unchanged

90th percentile time 26m 27m -1m

Percentage of patients transferred from ambulance to ED within 30 minutes 92.1% 91.5% +0.6 percentage points

Figure 21 Emergency department transfer of care time, January to March 2018

In NSW, the agreed target time for transfer of care from ambulance to ED staff is 30 minutes for at least 90% of patients. There was an overall rising trend amidst seasonal variation in the percentage of ambulance arrivals with a transfer of care time within 30 minutes (Figure 22). The bar graph at the bottom of the figure contextualises some of these trends by showing how the number of hospitals included in the report increased over time.

District hospitals in peer groups C1 had the highest percentage of patients transferred within 30 minutes (95.1%) (Figure 23).

Note: Transfer of care time requires matched records between ambulance service and ED data.


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Figure 22 Percentage of ambulance arrivals with transfer of care time within 30 minutes, April 2013 to March 2018

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Figure 23 Percentage of ambulance arrivals whose care was transferred within 30 minutes, by peer group, January to March 2018

Peer group result NSW result




All reports and profiles are available at bhi.nsw.gov.au

Additional information on local performance is available from BHI’s interactive data portal Healthcare Observer, at bhi.nsw.gov.au/healthcare_observer

Healthcare Quarterly is a series of regular reports that describes the number and types of services provided to the people of NSW and the timeliness with which they are provided.

The reports feature key indicators of activity and performance across ambulance and public hospital services in NSW.

Activity and performanceEmergency department, ambulance, admitted patients and elective surgery


Healthcare Quarterly is published alongside three standalone modules that provide more detailed information about emergency department care, admitted patients and elective surgery, and ambulance services.

Additional information on local performance is available in our hospital profiles or from BHI’s interactive portal Healthcare Observer, at bhi.nsw.gov.au/healthcare_observer


Emergency departmentActivity and performance

Spotlight on Measurement

Measuring and reporting performance of NSW ambulance services


Technical supplementEmergency department, admitted patients, elective surgery and ambulance


Performance profilesEmergency department, admitted patients, elective surgery and ambulance

AmbulanceActivity and performance

Healthcare Quarterly Healthcare Quarterly

Admitted patients and elective surgeryActivity and performance

About the Bureau of Health Information

The Bureau of Health Information (BHI) is a board-governed organisation that provides independent information about the performance of the NSW public healthcare system.

BHI was established in 2009 to provide system-wide support through transparent reporting.

BHI supports the accountability of the healthcare system by providing regular and detailed information to the community, government and healthcare professionals. This in turn supports quality improvement by highlighting how well the healthcare system is functioning and where there are opportunities to improve.

BHI manages the NSW Patient Survey Program, gathering information from patients about their experiences in public hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

BHI publishes a range of reports and tools that provide relevant, accurate and impartial information about how the health system is measuring up in terms of:

• Accessibility – healthcare when and where needed

• Appropriateness – the right healthcare, the right way

• Effectiveness – making a difference for patients

• Efficiency – value for money

• Equity – health for all, healthcare that’s fair

• Sustainability – caring for the future

BHI’s work relies on the efforts of a wide range of healthcare, data and policy experts. All of our assessment efforts leverage the work of hospital coders, analysts, technicians and healthcare providers who gather, codify and report data. Our public reporting of performance information is enabled and enhanced by the infrastructure, expertise and stewardship provided by colleagues from NSW Health and its pillar organisations.

bhi.nsw.gov.au

Documents

Emergency departmentbhi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/427413/HQ_32...Emergency department of atents teatent started on time Tee ee 714,101eeenc eatent esentatons of atents