NNSWLHD is transitioning to the eHealth NSW State-wide Admission and Discharge Notification (ADN) service. This is scheduled to occur in the first quarter of 2024.

The existing NNSWLHD ADN service - introduced as part of the Integrated Care Collaborative in 2017 and which sends ADNs for enrolled integrated care patients only - will be retired.

Notifications will be sent for all patients who admit to, transfer within or discharge from a NNSWLHD facility under the scenarios listed below.

What are ADNs? 

Admission and Discharge Notifications (ADNs) are near-real time notifications sent as event summaries. They contain key information about a patient’s visit including their name, date of admission, location, initial reason for admission and other key information.

ADNs improve the flow of information to General Practitioners (GPs) about their patients’ health journeys. They let GPs know when their patients are admitted to or discharged from health services.

The aim is to assist GPs to contact health services to share patient information, be involved in discharge planning and follow up at-risk patients who have not received required medical attention in hospital or discharged against medical advice.

ADNs are sent automatically to a patient’s nominated GP or GP Practice via a Secure Message Broker (Medical Objects, HealthLink or Argus).

A discharge notification is sent completely independently of the Discharge Summary.

Notifications

Notifications will be sent to the individual GP or Practice identified by the patient.

Notifications will be sent under the following circumstances:

1. Transfer (i.e. unplanned admission) to an inpatient ward from:
   • Emergency Department
   • Outpatient Clinic
2. Admission to specialties:
   • Psychiatry
3. Discharge from ED and inpatient wards when patient:
   • Discharge against medical advice
   • Did not wait to be seen (ED only)
   • Deceased

Notifications will not be sent for:

1. Discharge from inpatient wards and Emergency Departments (other than reasons above)
2. Admission to Emergency Departments
3. Recurring admissions (e.g. renal, oncology)
4. Outpatient Appointment attendance
5. Community and Allied Health visits

The list of scenarios when ADNs are sent is under regular review.

The following scenarios are under consideration for future implementation pending further technical feasibility studies (1) and consultation with Primary Care (2, 3).

1. Admission/transfer to Hospital In the Home (HITH)
2. Registration to/Discharge from Community Health Services
3. Appointment Attendance at an Outpatient Clinic

What information is in an ADN:

• Indicator of Admission Event Notification or Discharge Event Notification
• Patient details
• Presenting Problem
• Admitting / Discharging Facility and contact information
• Admission or Discharge Date
• Previous 5 admissions

See Example Notifications

Event Summary Admission

Event Summary Discharge

Important Information

For GPs and practices to receive an ADN, it’s vital that patients identify their GP or practice on admission (if able) and that the LHD has an accurate record of which GPs work at which practices.

Educate your patients to identify their GP or Practice on admission. Admission and discharge notifications are sent directly to a patient’s nominated GP or GP practice, so it’s important that your patients know who their GP or GP Practice is, and communicate this (if able) on admission. If the LHD doesn’t know who this is, ADNs do not get sent. Some practices encourage patients to keep their GP or practice business card in their wallet, phone case or as a photo on their phone.

NNSWLHD relies on general practices and AMS’ telling the LHD when a new staff member joins their service or when their practice details change – this helps keep the LHD ‘address book’ up to date, ensuring outbound hospital notifications (and Discharge Summaries) can be sent/received. To ensure the LHD has an accurate record of your practice (the HPIO in particular) and GPs at the practice: Click here to update NNSWLHD with your latest practice and GP information.

Need Help?

Level 1 Support: browse the FAQs below and refer to this page (the issues here apply equally to ADNs).

Level 2 Support: Contact your Healthy North Coast Primary Healthcare Coordinator with general questions.

Level 3 Support: Contact the NNSWLHD ADN Project Manager with specific questions or technical enquiries: Tim Marsh timothy.marsh@health.nsw.gov.au

NNSWLHD ADN FAQS