Table 2 Proportion of links identified by varying time-based linkage rule regarding hospital admission time, relative to ED visit

L1

Hospital admission time equal to ED arrival time

206

17%

L2

Hospital admission time equal to ED departure time

7

1%

L3

Hospital admission at some point within ED stay

801

67%

L4

Hospital admission and discharge before ED departure

21

2%

L5

Hospital admission ≤24 h after ED departure

43

4%

L6

Hospital admission ≤24 h prior to ED arrival^a

112

9%