AMA

Special collection and reporting instructions apply for patients who leave against medical advice (AMA).

Collection

identification in records

in Cognos

• while in ER:
• "ED Reg/Triaged/Assess LAMA"
• Left after initial assessment: Registered/Triaged/Assessed LWBS
• Left post initial Treatment: Left against medical advice

• on wards/units:
• "Left Against Medical Advice"
• Absent without Leave
• No return from Pass/Leave

Data entry

• Dispo:
  • enter "AMA (left against medical advice)" (can type AMA in dropdown)
  • AMA should be entered whether the patient follows the WRHA AMA process (signing form etc) or just goes AWOL
• Dispo DtTm:
  • The Dispo DtTm field is when the person left AMA, or was noted to be gone and assumed AMA. If a bed is "held" and the patient indeed returns, goes back into that bed without being readmitted (because the bed was held), then this isn't to be considered to be an AMA. This follows the same kind of reasoning as Visits to temporary locations.
• BedHeldEnd DtTm:
  • time bed was released

Reporting and Indicators

AMA affects the following:

• Patients who left AMA are excluded in Readmission Rate to ICU and Readmission to MedWard

• AMA is being counted as HOME in reporting for the location the patient went after discharge

• Any Reports or Indicators that use BedHeldEnd DtTm

• AMA as itself for specific request

See also

• BedHeldEnd DtTm
• Dispo_field#AMA