Death in Low-Mortality Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs)

Identifying Attributes

Care Settings
Hospital Care
Country
Australia
Publishing Organisation
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC): Core Hospital-Based Outcome Indicators
Type of Quality Indicator
Outcome
IOM Quality Dimension
Safety
Domain
Mortality

Defining Attributes

Definition

In-hospital deaths in Diagnosis Related Groups (see technical specifications) with a mortality rate less than 0.5%. This indicator is intended to identify in-hospital deaths in patients unlikely to die during hospitalisation. The underlying assumption is that when patients admitted for an extremely low-mortality condition or procedure die, a health care error is more likely to be responsible.

Numerator

Number of in-hospital deaths for low mortality DRGs x 100

Denominator

Number of separations in low-mortality DRGs.(defined as DRGs with a national mortality of less than 0.5% over the previous 3 years).

Exclusions

Any diagnosis (principal or additional) and/or any procedure of trauma, immuno-compromised state, cancer.

Use of Risk Adjustment
No
Risk Adjustments

None

Stratifications

By hospital peer group.

Data Attributes

Type of Data Collection
Administrative data
Data Collection Methods

Core Hospital-Based Outcome Indicators

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

Internal state/territory reports

Reporting Frequency
Reporting Frequency in Days
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
23 July 2025