Patient-specific record linkage between emergency department and hospital admission data for a cohort of people who inject drugs: methodological considerations for frequent presenters

Table 3 Expected versus found links based on VEMD departure status or VAED admission type

	Linked VAED record found
Using VEMD departure status	Yes, n (col%)	No, n (col%)
Linked admission expected^a	813 (68)	59 (3)	872
Linked admission not expected^b	377 (32)	2210 (97)	2587
Linked admission not expected^b	1190	2269	3459
	Linked VEMD record found
Using VAED admission type	Yes, n (col%)	No, n (col%)
Preceding ED visit expected^c	1096 (92)	79 (11)	1174
Preceding ED visit uncertain^d	94 (8)	608 (89)	703
Preceding ED visit uncertain^d	1190	687	1877

VEMD Victorian Emergency Minimum Dataset, VAED Victorian Admitted Episode Dataset, ED Emergency Department
^aDeparture status: Ward setting at this hospital, Procedure room at this campus, Transfers to another hospital campus
^bDeparture status: Return to usual residence, Left before treatment completed, Dead on arrival or died in ED
^cAdmission type: Emergency admission through this hospital
^dAdmission type: Admission from waiting list, Other admission, Maternity, Statistical admission, Other emergency admission

ISSN: 1471-2288