• Saartje Berendsen Russell, Michael M Dinh, and Nerida Bell.
• Emergency Department, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Missenden Road, Camperdown, Sydney 2050, New South Wales, Australia; Faculty of Nursing, The University of Sydney, Mallett Street, Camperdown, Sydney 2050, New South Wales, Australia. Electronic address: Saartje.berendsenrussell@sswahs.nsw.gov.au.
• Australas Emerg Nurs J. 2017 Feb 1; 20 (1): 48-52.

BackgroundHaving a robust Emergency Department Presenting Problem Code Set (EDPPCS) is important for collecting and analysing data around Emergency Department (ED) activity, funding, bio-surveillance and research. This paper analyses the clinical utilisation of the current EDPPCS using two years worth of ED data collected as part of the larger state-wide Demand for Emergency Services Trends in Years 2010-2014 (DESTINY) project. This project proposes potential improvements in the current EDPPCS including a reduction in duplication and redundant clinical terms.MethodsED presenting problem fields were abstracted from the Emergency Department Data Collection (EDCC) Registry as entered by trained triage nurses. Frequencies of presenting problems were calculated and cross referenced with the EDPPCS. These were then categorised into clinically meaningful groups.ResultsThere were 1,746,635million eligible ED presentations during January 2013 and December 2014 to 23 level 5 or 6 EDs. Of these, there were 64,849 unique presenting problem entries with 450 terms being used more than 100 times during the study period. Of those 450 terms, only 177 (39.3%) matched the current EDPPCS.ConclusionFuture iterations of the EDPPCS should be based on the evidence presented making it shorter, more comprehensive and systematic leading to improved triage performance, usefulness in research and bio-surveillance.Copyright © 2016 College of Emergency Nursing Australasia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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