Construction of the Australian Inpatient Export Database (AIED)

Abstract

Objective: To establish a database of exports by Australian acute health care institutions for the period in which exports were first promoted.

Method: Hospital morbidity data for patients resident overseas (Group A) and Medicare ineligible patients resident in Australia (Group B) were sought for the period 1983-84 to 1995-96 from each state and territory health department. Private hospital permission was obtained for the release of identifiable private hospital data.

Results: Data were coalesced into a relational database covering the period 1987-88 to 1995-96. Coding variations between and within jurisdictions over time necessitated the development of a …