Access Block

Identifying Attributes

Care Settings
Care Transitions
Country
New Zealand
Publishing Organisation
A Quality Framework and Suite of Quality Measures for the Emergency Department Phase of Acute Patient Care in New Zealand
Type of Quality Indicator
Process
IOM Quality Dimension
Efficiency
Domain
Access / Waiting Times

Defining Attributes

Definition

Percentage of admitted patients still in ED at eight hours. Access block refers to the situation where patients are unable to gain access to appropriate hospital beds within a reasonable amount of time, no greater than 8 hours (Australasian College For Emergency Medicine Definition)

Numerator

Number of admitted patients still in ED at eight hours (inferred).

Denominator

Number of patients admitted from ED (inferred).

Exclusions
Use of Risk Adjustment
No
Risk Adjustments
Stratifications

Data Attributes

Type of Data Collection
Data Collection Methods
Frequency of Data Collection
Frequency of Data Collection in Days
Reporting Methods

Recommended quality measured for District Health Boards. Unable to determine if currently/routinely reported

Reporting Frequency
Reporting Frequency in Days
Indicator Has Recommended Targets
No

Source and Reference Attributes

Evidence Source

Jones P, Wells S, Harper A, Le Fevre J, Stewart J, Curtis E, Reid P, Ameratunga S. Impact of a national time target for ED length of stay on patient outcomes. N Z Med J. 2017 May 12;130(1455):15-34. PMID: 28494475. www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/publications/quality-famework-suite-of-quality-measures-for-ed.pdf#:~:text=In%20July%202009%20New%20Zealand%20%28NZ%29%20adopted%20the,discharged%20or%20transferred%20within%20six%20hours%20of%20presentation.%E2%80%99

Technical Specifications
Link to Measurement Tools
Quality Indicator Confirmed to be Part of a Program Used to Monitor Quality and Safety of Care Among Older People at a Population-Level between 2012-2022
No
Assessed by the Australian Consortium for Aged Care Collaborators as Generally Containing Good Properties (Importance and Scientific Acceptability)
No
Australian Consortium for Aged Care Endorsed
No
Identified by PHARMA-Care Project
No
Upload Date
23 July 2025