Hospital activity indicators

Number of patient admissions

Measures the number of patient admissions that were completed during the reporting period. Occasionally, the type of care being provided to an admitted patient changes during their hospital stay. In this instance a new episode of admission begins within the same hospital stay. The term 'admissions' is known as an admitted patient 'episode of care' in this context.

Same day admissions

Same day admissions occur where the patient was admitted to hospital for a single day (or part of a day), and did not remain in hospital overnight.

Overnight admissions

Overnight admissions occur where the person was admitted and stayed one or more nights in hospital.

Emergency admissions

Emergency admissions are those unplanned episodes of care which, in the opinion of the treating clinician, are necessary and should occur within 24 hours.

Outpatient services

Outpatient services are patient visits ('occasions of service') to non-admitted hospital outpatient clinics.

Babies born

The number of babies born during the period.

Radiation treatment indicators

Radiation therapy services are available at four public hospitals in Queensland. Hospital services report on next available start dates for radiation therapy planning and treatment according to two priority categories, which are based on clinical need. Patients are generally referred to radiation oncology from surgery via a multidisciplinary team meeting where the patient's care plan is developed. Scheduling is determined according to the patient's clinical need and the likelihood of each patient's condition deteriorating or becoming an emergency.

P1 - Emergency care (maximum acceptable waiting time = 24 hours)

This is an extremely small group of people with cancer for whom emergency, same day radiation treatment is required and given within 24 hours. Examples of this would include malignant spinal cord compression, uncontrolled bleeding or mediastinal/airway compression threatening imminent death.

P2 - High priority care (maximum acceptable waiting time = 10 working days)

This is a large group of people with cancer who broadly fall in two categories.

1. People being treated for cure where there is evidence that a delay to commence within this time frame will adversely affect outcome.
2. People who have pressing cancer symptoms such as pain and endure personal suffering or other complications because of delay.

P3 - Planned care (maximum acceptable waiting time = 20 working days)

This is a large group of people with cancer who need planned radiation treatment as a major part of their cancer care. Often this course of radiation treatment is combined with surgery and chemotherapy and can be planned for in advance.