Incident Reports are a typical part of risk management in the healthcare setting. In theory, properly reporting incidents provides an opportunity for a resolution by the right people at the right time. In any medical organization there are myriad reasons for completing an incident report.

Potential vulnerabilities can include, but are not limited to: patient complaints, medication errors, equipment malfunctions, policy violations, HIPAA and cyber risks, and physical safety and violence threats.

With the goal of rectifying any issues and preventing future problems, incidents need to be reported quickly and with as much information as possible. As some incidents may end up in court cases years later, timely and accurate reports can prove vital.

With all that is at stake, for many healthcare practices it makes sense to invest time and resources in an automated system of incident reporting.

Automated Incident Reporting has five main benefits:

  • Streamlined Reporting and Investigations

    By automating the process and removing paper, the risk of duplicates and differing reports is eliminated.

  • Consistency of Processes

    Dropdown menus and frameworks are created to provide for consistent reporting. Extraneous and unwanted information such as blame and hearsay are less likely to be included.

  • Improved Sharing of Real-Time Information Among Staff

    A cloud-based system allows for multiple individuals at different locations to contribute and access the same information simultaneously.

  • Increased Accuracy and Organizational Intelligence

    A quality process provides a way to report more quickly and therefore improve the quality of the information that is reported.

  • Tracking Issues and Implementing Proactive and Preventive Processes

    By increasing the accuracy and quality of a report, administrators gain the advantage of more quickly implementing steps to mitigate risks.

Processes and forms for incident reporting vary by organization, but an electronic management system may help streamline efforts and yield more accurate results.

To learn how First Healthcare Compliance facilitates incident reporting, check out our comprehensive compliance management solution.