Abstract
BackgroundPrevious studies of incident reporting in health care organizations have largely focused on single cases, and have usually attended to earlier stages of reporting. This is a comparative case study of two hospital divisions’ use of an incident reporting system, and considers the different stages in the process and the factors that help shape the process.MethodThe data was comprised of 85 semi-structured interviews of health care practitioners in general internal medicine, obstetrics and neonatology; thematic analysis of the transcribed interviews was undertaken. Inductive and deductive themes are reported. This work is part of a larger qualitative study found elsewhere in the literature.ResultsThe findings showed that there were major differences between the two divisions in terms of: a) what comprised a typical report (outcome based vs communication and near-miss based); b) how the reports were investigated (individual manager vs interdisciplinary team); c) learning from reporting (interventions having ambiguous linkages to the reporting system vs interventions having clear linkages to reported incidents); and d) feedback (limited feedback vs multiple feedback).ConclusionsThe differences between the two divisions can be explained in terms of: a) the influence of litigation on practice, b) the availability or lack of interprofessional training, and c) the introduction of the reporting system (top-down vs bottom-up approach). A model based on the findings portraying the influences on incident reporting and learning is provided. Implications for practice are addressed.
Highlights
Introduction of the Incident reporting systems (IRS)The way the IRS was introduced to leaders and to the front line staff in the two divisions was revealing
The purpose of this study is to understand the different stages of electronic incident reporting and to do so in a comparative study of two hospital divisions: General Internal Medicine (GIM), Obstetrics and Neonatology (OBS/NEO – for the purposes of this study, Obstetrics and Neonatology will be treated as a single division except where noted)
IRS in GIM and obstetrics and neonatology (OBS/NEO) Incident reporting has been studied in specific hospital departments. As this present study investigates incident reporting in the division of General Internal Medicine (GIM – a subset of the Department of Medicine) and the divisions of Obstetrics and Neonatology (OBS/ NEO - a subset of the Department of Obstetrics/ Gynecology & Newborn Care), a brief review of the literature concerning incident reporting and patient safety in these two divisions is warranted
Summary
Introduction of the IRSThe way the IRS was introduced to leaders and to the front line staff in the two divisions was revealing. In GIM, a Nurse Leader was invited to help customize the system for use in the unit, but the initiative came from the IRS team. Previous studies of incident reporting in health care organizations have largely focused on single cases, and have usually attended to earlier stages of reporting. This is a comparative case study of two hospital divisions’ use of an incident reporting system, and considers the different stages in the process and the factors that help shape the process.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
