Percentage of patients with asthma that were given a written asthma action plan at discharge AND a copy was communicated to the primary care clinician. A written asthma action plan should be individualised to the patient's needs and should cover: details of regular maintenance and preventer medicines; how and when to adjust treatment in response to signs and symptoms of exacerbations; how and when to start oral corticosteroids and seek medical advice for increasing asthma severity; and how and when to seek urgent medical help. A copy of the plan given to the patient should be included in the medical record, or explicit documentation made in the medical record that an individualised plan was given. A copy is communicated to the primary care clinician means a copy of the plan is sent to the communityx0002based health practitioner nominated by the patient, or included in the discharge summary or discharge letter. Such communication should be explicitly documented in the medical record.

Number of patients with asthma that were given a written asthma action plan at discharge AND a copy was communicated to the primary care clinician

Number of patients with asthma in sample

None

Medical records and discharge documentation.

Recommended for local quality improvement processes. Not regularly reported at national level.

Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care and NSW Therapeutic Advisory Group Inc. (2014), National Quality Use of Medicines Indicators for Australian Hospitals. ACSQHC, Sydney www.safetyandquality.gov.au/sites/default/files/migrated/SAQ127NationalQUMIndicatorsV14-FINAL-D14-39602.pdf page 94