Discharge Abstracts Database (Hospital Separations) – Data Dictionary
Includes discharges, transfers and deaths of in-patients from acute care hospitals in BC, including day surgeries.
Fields are available in all years unless otherwise noted. Note: Records are grouped into fiscal years by separation
date, not the date of admission. Abortion procedures, including those conducted in concert with other procedures,
are unavailable from all applicable files. This is in accordance with BC Freedom of Information and Protection of
Privacy Act.
DATA VARIABLES DEFINITION
Client Study ID Study identification number – Replaces the patient’s Personal Health Number
Client Gender Patient’s gender
Date of birth (YYYYMM) Birth date of patient (Year/Month only)
Client HA Health Authority
Client HSDA Health Service Delivery Area
Client Local Health Area The Local Health Area (LHA) is the smallest geographical unit of analysis and is
Code (LHA 3) based on the postal code of the patient. The LHA is derived from the Translation
Master File (TMF) for valid BC postal codes only.
Client FSA Forward Sortation Area
BC hospital number Hospital where service was provided
Level of care Indicates the level of care provided to the patient.
Admission date The date the patient was admitted to the facility
Admission time The time of day the patient was admitted to the facility. Hour only up to 2000/01,
from 2001/02 forward, complete time is available
Discharge date The date the patient was separated (discharged) from the facility
Discharge (separation) The time of day the patient was discharged from the facility. Hour only up to
time 2000/01, from 2001/02 forward, complete time is available
Admit category This indicates the urgency of admission
Ambulance flag The definition of this field changed in 2001. Prior to 2001, the field "ambulanc"
was a flag (1 or blank) indicating whether an ambulance was used. Also pre-
2001, a second field ambtype was used to indicate the type of ambulance. From
2001 forward only one field is used to satisfy both purposes.
Ambulance type If the patient was brought to the facility by ambulance, this code indicates the
type of ambulance used
Entry code (91/92) The patient’s type or mode of entry to a facility
Exit code (91/92 – 00/01) The patient’s type or mode of exit from a facility
Operative death code This code indicates the type of patient's death related to an operative procedure.
(91/92 – 00/01; 01/02 Note: Values change from 91/92 – 00/01 to 01/02 forward
forward)
Supplemental death code This code identifies the type of patient's death
(91/92 – 00/01)
Discharge (separation) Status of patient upon leaving hospital
disposition (01/02 forward)
Death in special care unit Code to indicate death in a Special Care Unit
indicator (01/02 forward)
Acute/rehab days A calculated value for the number of days spent in Acute and Rehab levels only
Alternate level of care An ALC patient has finished the acute care phase of treatment but remains in an
(ALC) length of stay acute care bed waiting placement in an extended care unit, nursing home, etc.
Chronic behaviour disorder Number of days associated with patient service
unit days
Intensive care unit days Number of days spent in Intensive Care Unit
The number of days spent in the rehabilitation care unit in an Acute Care Hospital
Rehabilitation days (level=A). This value is obtained from the days associated with Patient Service
and is not applicable to free standing rehabilitation units (level=R)
Total length of stay The total number of days the patient was hospitalized
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DATA VARIABLES DEFINITION
BC hospital number Hospital from which the patient arrived to the current hospital
transferred from
BC Hospital number Hospital to which the patient was transferred from the current hospital
transferred to
Level from A code identifying the level of care of the facility from which the Patient was
(91/92 to 00/01) transferred
Level to A code identifying the level of care of the Facility to where the Patient was
( 91/92 to 00/01) transferred
BC care level from (01/02 Indicates the care level transferred from. Values in this field differ from those
– forward) reported in LEVELFROM
BC care level to Indicates the care level transferred to. Values in this field differ from those
(01/02 – forward) reported in LEVELTO
Service transfer A code which defines the Patient Service Transfer
Service transfer days The Number of days associated with a patient service which is not determined to
(1 to 3) be the main patient service.
Main patient service Based on the most responsible diagnosis code and is not necessarily the first
service that the patient was assigned to
Provider 1 Provider who was most responsible for the Patient’s care during hospitalization
Provider 1 service A code which identifies the Training or Specialty of the Provider responsible for
the Patient's care during hospitalization. Note: Not the same as registered
specialty
Diagnosis codes (max. 16 ICD9 diagnosis codes (1-16) available for 91/92 – 00/01 and as converted
(ICD9 codes) for 91/92 – ICD10CA codes 1-25 for 01/02-06/07, ICD10CA diagnosis codes (1-25) available
00/01; max 25 (ICD10-CA for 01/02 forward
codes) for 01/02 – Note: - must be used with diagnosis type, below
forward)
Diagnosis type (max. of 16 A code which determines the relationship of the diagnosis to the patient’s
for 91/92 – 00/01; 25 for hospitalization
01/02 forward)
Diagnostic short list (based Diagnostic short code
on ICD9 coding) (91/92 –
06/07)
Diagnostic short code Diagnostic short code
(based on ICD10-CA
coding) (01/02 forward)
Pre-admit co-morbidity Indicates a condition arising at the beginning of the hospital’s observation and/or
(first diagnosis type 1 treatment which influences the patient’s length of stay and/or significantly
based on ICD9 coding) influences the management/treatment of the patient while in hospital
(91/92 – 06/07)
First E-code (cause of This is the first occurrence of an ecode indicating the cause of injury.
injury) (ICD9 for 91/92 –
00/01; ICD10-CA for 01/02
forward )
Second E-code (cause of This is the second occurrence of an ecode indicating the second cause of injury.
injury) (ICD9 for 91/92 –
00/01)
ICD9 injury code (91/92 – Identifies the first injury code on a record (if 7) applicable
00/01); ICD10-CA injury
code (01/02 forward)
Procedure code (CCP) CCP procedure codes. Converted from CCI Intervention codes (icode1-20) from
(max. of 10 in 91/92 – 01/02-06/07)
00/01; and 20 in 01/02 –
06/07)
Intervention code (CCI) Identifies an intervention that is performed during the patient’s stay. Must be a
(max. of 20 codes) (01/02 valid CCI (Canadian Classification of Health Interventions) code
forward)
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DATA VARIABLES DEFINITION
Procedure on admission Field name originates from "same day surgery" and indicates that an intervention
day indicator (not necessarily surgery) was performed on the day of admission
Procedure / intervention The date on which the intervention episode started and ended
starting and ending dates
(max. of 10 in 91/92 –
00/01; and 20 in 01/02
forward)
Procedure / intervention The time at which the intervention episode started and ended
starting and ending times
(max. of 20 codes) (09/10
forward)
Procedure short list (based Procedure Group. This field name originates from "surgical short list", and is a
on CCP coding) (91/92 – grouping based on intervention codes
00/01)
Intervention short list Intervention Short List.
(based on CCI coding)
(01/02 forward)
Intervention provider Indicates the Provider Number used to identify the Provider associated with the
(max. of 10 in 91/92 – performed intervention.
00/01; and 20 in 01/02
forward)
Intervention provider’s Intervention provider’s service [01-99, ZZ, blank] identifies the training specialty of
service (max. of 10 in the provider. This is taken from the CIHI list of provider services. The provider
91/92 – 00/01; and 20 in service is initialized to 0 if this information is not available
01/02 forward)
Intervention (procedure) Indicates the Provider Number of the Anesthetist associated with the performed
anesthetist (max. of 10 in intervention.
91/92 – 00/01; and 20 in
01/02 forward)
Intervention (procedure) Indicates the type of anaesthesia used during an intervention
anesthetic (max. of 10 in
91/92 – 00/01; and 20 in
01/02 forward)
Mother listed on newborn A cross-reference field which records the Mother’s chart number (patnum) on the
record (97/98-08/09) Newborn abstract and the Newborn’s chart. Mnpatnum is the cross-reference
field (01/02 forward)
Gestational age The gestational age is recorded in weeks. It is mandatory on all newborn and
(94/95 – 06/07) obstetrics delivered case and optional on therapeutic abortion cases
Infant birth weight Infant birth weight in grams. Captured for newborns and neonates (age<29 days)
only
Neonatal Intensive Care Number of days spent in the Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing Unit Level 2
Unit Level 2 days
(93/94 – forward)
Neonatal Intensive Care Number of days spent in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Level 3
Unit Level 3 days
(93/94 – forward)
Medical Intensive Care The number of days spent in a medical intensive care nursing unit
Nursing Unit days
(01/02 – forward)
Surgical Intensive Care Number of days spent in the Surgical Intensive Care Nursing Unit
Nursing Unit days
(01/02 – forward)
Trauma Intensive Care Number of days spent in the Trauma Intensive Care Nursing Unit
Nursing Unit days
(01/02 – forward)
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DATA VARIABLES DEFINITION
Combined Medical / Number of days spent in combined Medical/Surgical
Surgical Intensive Care
Nursing Unit days
(01/02 – forward)
Burn Intensive Care Number of days spent in Burn Intensive Care Nursing Unit
Nursing Unit days
(01/02 – forward)
Cardiac Intensive Care Number of days spent in Cardiac Intensive Care Nursing Unit
Nursing Unit days (01/02 –
forward)
Coronary Intensive Care Number of days spent in Coronary Intensive Care Nursing Unit
Nursing Unit days
Neonatal Intensive Care Number of days spent in the Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing Unit
Nursing Unit days
(01/02 - 07/08 for BC)
Neurosurgery Intensive Number of days spent in the Neurosurgery Intensive Care Nursing Unit
Care Nursing Unit days
(01/02 – forward)
Pediatric Intensive Care Number of days spent in the pediatric intensive care nursing unit
Nursing Unit days
(01/02 – forward)
Respirology Intensive Care Number of days spent in Respirology Intensive Care Nursing Unit
Nursing Unit days (01/02 –
forward)
Step-down Medical Unit Number of days spent in the Step-down Medical Unit
days
(01/02 – forward)
Combined Medical / Number of days spent in the Step-down Medical Unit and Number of days spent
Surgical Step Down Unit in the Step-down Surgical Unit
days
(01/02 forward)
Province issuing health Is recorded in conjunction with the Health Care Number
care number
(91/92 – forward)
Institution number for out Identification number unique to each Province/Territory
of province facilities (91/92
– forward)
Province code (location of Identifies the province in which the hospital is located
hospital)
(91/92 – forward)
Responsibility for payment Identifies the party responsible for a patient’s hospitalization payment
Third party liability form Indicates when a third party liability form has been prepared for the recovery of
health care costs by the Ministry of Health
CIHI case mix group Labels for Case Mix Groups assigned by CIHI.
(CMG) (91/92 – 00/01)
CIHI major clinical The Major Clinical Category designating the body system assigned to the case by
category (MCC) the CIHI CMG grouper
(91/92 – 00/01)
CIHI CMG complexity/ co- Complexity Level assigned to hospitalizations (a CMG-related variable).
morbidity level
(91/92 – 00/01)
CIHI expected length of Expected Length of Stay based on the CIHI CMG grouping methodology
stay (ELOS) (91/92 –
00/01)
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DATA VARIABLES DEFINITION
CIHI resource intensity Inpatient weighting value assigned to the case by the CIHI CMG grouper
weighting (RIW) value
(91/92 – 00/01)
CIHI day procedure group Day Procedure weighting value assigned to the case by the CIHI CMG grouper
(DPG) weight
(91/92 – 06/07)
DPG RIW+ DPG weighting value based on the CIHI CMG Plus grouping methodology
(01/02 – 10/11)
Day Procedure Group Day Procedure Group assigned to the case by the CIHI CMG Plus grouping
(01/02 – 10/11) methodology.
Latest Day Procedure Latest Day Procedure Group assigned to the record by the CIHI complexity
Group (01/02 – 10/11) grouping methodology.
Methodology Year Year for which the CIHI CMG Plus grouping methodology was developed. These
(01/02 – forward) values exist for 91/92 forward, but all years before 01/02 were grouped to 2001.
Major Clinical Category The Major Clinical Category designating the body system assigned to the case
(MCC+) (01/02 forward) by the CIHI CMG Plus grouper
Case Mix Group (CMG+) Case Mix Groups assigned by the CIHI CMG Plus grouper.
(01/02 – forward)
Comorbidity level Comorbidity Level assigned to the case by the CIHI CMG Plus grouper.
(01/02 – forward)
Inpatient RIW+ Inpatient weighting value assigned to the case by the CIHI CMG Plus grouper
(01/02 – forward)
ELOS days Expected Length of Stay based on the CIHI CMG Plus grouping methodology
(01/02 – forward)
Inpatient RIW atypical CMG Plus RIW Atypical Code
code (01/02 – forward)
CACS Code Label Ambulatory weighting code assigned to the case by the CIHI CACS grouper
(08/09 – forward)
CACS RIW Ambulatory weighting value assigned to the case by the CIHI CACS grouper
(08/09 – forward)
CACS Major Cluster Comprehensive Ambulatory Care System Major Ambulatory Cluster
(08/09 - forward)
Cardioversion flag Flagged Intervention Cardioversion Flag, based on the CIHI CMG Plus grouping
(01/02 – forward) methodology
Cell saver flag Flagged Intervention Cell Saver Flag, based on the CIHI CMG Plus grouping
(01/02 – forward) methodology
Chemotherapy Flag Flagged Intervention Chemotherapy Flag, based on the CIHI CMG Plus
(01/02 – forward) grouping methodology
Dialysis Flag Flagged Intervention Dialysis Flag, based on the CIHI CMG Plus grouping
(01/02 – forward) methodology
Heart Resuscitation Flag Flagged Intervention Heart Resuscitation Flag, based on the CIHI CMG Plus
(01/02 – forward) grouping methodology
Mechanical ventilation gt Flagged Intervention mechanical ventilation greater than or equal to 96 hours
96 hours flag flag, based on the CIHI CMG Plus grouping methodology
(01/02 – forward)
Mechanical ventilation lt Flagged intervention mechanical ventilation less than 96 hours flag, based on
96 hours flag the CIHI CMG Plus grouping methodology
(01/02 – forward)
Feeding Tube Flag Flagged Intervention Feeding Tube Flag, based on the CIHI CMG Plus grouping
(01/02 – forward) methodology
Paracentesis Flag Flagged Intervention Paracentesis Flag, based on the CIHI CMG Plus grouping
(01/02 – forward) methodology
Parenteral Nutrition Flag Flagged Intervention Parenteral Nutrition Flag, based on the CIHI CMG Plus
(01/02 – forward) grouping methodology
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DATA VARIABLES DEFINITION
Pleurocentesis Flag Flagged Intervention Pleurocentesis Flag, based on the CIHI CMG Plus
(01/02 – forward) grouping methodology
Radiotherapy Flag Flagged Intervention Radiotherapy Flag, based on the CIHI CMG Plus grouping
(01/02 – forward) methodology
Tracheostomy Flag Flagged Intervention Tracheostomy Flag, based on the CIHI CMG Plus grouping
(01/02 – forward) methodology
Vascular Access Device Flagged Intervention Vascular Access Device Flag, based on the CIHI CMG
Flag (01/02 – forward) Plus grouping methodology
Biopsy Flag Flagged Intervention Biopsy Flag, based on the CIHI CMG Plus grouping
(09/10 – forward) methodology
Endoscopy Flag Flagged Intervention Endoscopy Flag, based on the CIHI CMG Plus grouping
(09/10 – forward) methodology
Pre-Delivery Days Flag Flagged Intervention Pre-Delivery Days Flag, based on the CIHI CMG Plus
(09/10 – forward) grouping methodology
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