Table 1 Summary of key variables and data definitions used in the record linkage process
Application | Datasources | |
|---|---|---|
Victorian Emergency Minimum Dataset (VEMD)a | Victorian Admitted Episode Dataset (VAED)a | |
For linkage to cohort data | Medicare number Medicare suffix Date of birth Sex | Medicare number Medicare suffix Date of birth Sex |
For VEMD to VAED linkage | Unique identifierb Arrival date Arrival time Departure date Departure time | Unique identifierb Admission date Admission time Separation date Separation time |
Useful for manual inspection of links | Type of visit Referred by Departure status Reason for transfer Campus code ICD-10-AM diagnosesc | Admission type Admission source Separation mode Accommodation type on separation Campus code ICD-10-AM diagnosisc Care type Clinical speciality |
For identifying continuous episodes of care | Departure status indicating planned transfer of care Transfer to mental health bed, different hospital Transfer to another hospital campus Transfer to intensive care, different hospital | Separation mode indicating transfer of care Statistical separationd Separation and transfer to other hospital |
Cross checking expected versus found links | Departure status suggesting admission occurred Ward setting at this hospitale Procedure room at this campus Transfers to another hospital campus Departure status suggesting no admission Return to usual residencef Left before treatment completedg Dead on arrival or died in ED | Admission type suggesting preceding ED visit Emergency admission through this hospital Admission type cannot confirm prior ED visit Admission from waiting list Other admissionh Maternityi Statistical admissiond Other emergency admissionj |