Enhancing Home Care Safety: Validation of a Context-Aware Incident Reporting Tool Integrated into the EHR

Abstract

Introduction. Hospital incident reporting is inadequate for home care, which relies heavily on sociodemographics and caregiver (CG) involvement. This study shows the internal validation path of a new digital incident reporting module, designed to capture these contextual dimensions and integrate with the Electronic Health Records (EHR).

Methods. Module validation involved four steps: 1) Co-design: A multidisciplinary team developed the module, adding "CG Status," "Social Context," and “other Stakeholder” fields. 2) Pilot: A beta version was tested by 30 healthcare professionals (HP) for 12 months. 3) Survey: Usability was assessed via a survey (clarity, speed, relevance). 4) Validation: Feedback and usage were analyzed for final refinement and EHR integration.

Results. The survey response rate was 53%. The new module also showed high acceptance with a mean usability score of 4.2/5. Separating 'CG-related factors' and 'HP-related factors' was deemed highly useful (average score of 4.8), a utility confirmed by usage analysis. HP highly valued (mean score 4.7) the inclusion of 'CG-related factors.' Due to positive metrics, the board approved the tool for inclusion in EHR.

Discussion. Validating the tool was a change management process, not just technical. Early involvement of HP ensured the digital module met real-world needs. This participatory approach guarantees the new tool is seen as a valuable asset for safer home care, not an administrative burden.