Tracking the patient journey by combining multiple hospital database systems
Andy Wong A , Erhan Kozan A , Michael Sinnott B D , Lyndall Spencer C E and Robert Eley B DA Decision Science, Queensland University of Technology, Garden Point Campus, 2 George Street, Brisbane, Qld 4001, Australia. Email: a3.wong@qut.edu.au; e.kozan@qut.edu.au
B Emergency Department, Princess Alexandra Hospital, 199 Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba, Qld 4102, Australia. Email: Michael_Sinnott@health.qld.gov.au; r.eley@uq.edu.au
C Nurse Practice and Development Unit, Princess Alexandra Hospital, 199 Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba, Qld 4102, Australia.
D The University of Queensland, School of Medicine, Level 2, Translational Research Institute, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Qld 4102, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: Lyndall.Spencer@health.qld.gov.au
Australian Health Review 38(3) 332-336 https://doi.org/10.1071/AH13070
Submitted: 8 March 2013 Accepted: 4 February 2014 Published: 8 May 2014
Journal Compilation © AHHA 2014
Abstract
With new national targets for patient flow in public hospitals designed to increase efficiencies in patient care and resource use, better knowledge of events affecting length of stay will support improved bed management and scheduling of procedures. This paper presents a case study involving the integration of material from each of three databases in operation at one tertiary hospital and demonstrates it is possible to follow patient journeys from admission to discharge.
What is known about this topic? At present, patient data at one Queensland tertiary hospital are assembled in three information systems: (1) the Hospital Based Corporate Information System (HBCIS), which tracks patients from in-patient admission to discharge; (2) the Emergency Department Information System (EDIS) containing patient data from presentation to departure from the emergency department; and (3) Operation Room Management Information System (ORMIS), which records surgical operations.
What does this paper add? This paper describes how a new enquiry tool may be used to link the three hospital information systems for studying the hospital journey through different wards and/or operating theatres for both individual and groups of patients.
What are the implications for practitioners? An understanding of the patients’ journeys provides better insight into patient flow and provides the tool for research relating to access block, as well as optimising the use of physical and human resources.
References
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