Time in Emergency Department Until Disposition Decision (Hours, Percentile)

Identifying Attributes

Care Settings
Hospital Care
Country
Canada
Publishing Organisation
Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI)
Type of Quality Indicator
Outcome
IOM Quality Dimension
Timeliness
Domain
Emergency Care

Defining Attributes

Definition

This indicator measures the time interval between the earlier of Triage Date/Time or Registration Date/Time and Disposition Date/Time (as determined by the main service provider).

Numerator

The indicator is measured in hours, usually using the 90th percentile and/or 50th percentile, which represents the maximum length of time that 90% and/or 50% of patients stay in the emergency department (ED) until a visit disposition decision is made.

Denominator

All emergency visits.

Exclusions

Scheduled emergency visits. ED visit with Visit Disposition = 61 (leave post-registration). Both Registration and Triage Date/Time are invalid/unknown, or physician Disposition Date/Time is invalid/unknown.

Use of Risk Adjustment
No
Risk Adjustments

None

Stratifications

By peer group and reporting level: National, Province/Territory, Region, Facility, Corporation.

Collection and Reporting Attributes

Type of Data Collection
Electronic/paper chart records
Data Collection Methods

National Rehabilitation Reporting System (NRS)

Frequency of Data Collection
Monthly
Frequency of Data Collection in Days
30
Reporting Methods

Online tool: Your Health System Insight (login required)

Reporting Frequency
Monthly
Reporting Frequency in Days
30
Indicator Has Recommended Targets
No

Source and Reference Attributes

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
Yes
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
02 December 2025