Discharges from hospitals
methods, notes and classification
A hospital discharge is the formal release of a patient from a hospital after a procedure or course of treatment. A discharge occurs whenever a patient leaves because of finalisation of treatment, signs out against medical advice, transfers to another health care institution or on death. An in-patient is a patient who is formally admitted (or 'hospitalised') to an institution for treatment and/or care and stays for a minimum of one night or more than 24 hours in the hospital or other institution providing in-patient care. The number of discharges is the most commonly used measure of the utilisation of hospital services. Discharges, rather than admissions, are used because hospital abstracts for in-patient care are based on information gathered at the time of discharge. Diagnostic chapters (using principal diagnosis) have been defined according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD).
Methods 
Explanatory Notes 
Variables