Yes, the intent is to capture the time the patient physically leaves the ED. If the patient is admitted to observation under the services of the ED, capture the date of the departure from the observation services (Patient is seen in the ED and admitted to an observation unit of the ED on 01-01-20XX then is discharged from the ED observation unit on 01-03-20XX capture the 01-03-20XX as the departure date).

Is the intent of the ED Departure time to capture the time the patient physically leaves the ED? ED visit 2017 eCQM specifications allows for the "facility location departure time" - are we correct then, to map a date/time stamp for when the patient physically leaves the ED? Ex: If a patient is under observation services but remains in the ED prior to being admitted, do we use the ED departure time (physically removed from ED to floor) or the time that observation services were initiated?