What is the primary purpose of an incident report form?

The primary purpose of an incident report form is to collect data surrounding the patient and incident and communicate medical information. This report is critical in capturing detailed information about the circumstances of the incident, the patient's condition, the care provided, and any observations that may relate to the event. Such comprehensive documentation is essential for several reasons, including ensuring continuity of care, allowing for accurate communication among medical professionals, and providing a record that can be referenced in case of any future medical or legal inquiries. Proper documentation is crucial for evaluation and learning to improve future responses and procedures.

While legal protection for responders, marketing, and patient satisfaction are important considerations in the broader scope of emergency care, they do not capture the primary function of an incident report form, which is fundamentally about data and information gathering pertaining to the medical event itself. The report serves to facilitate better healthcare outcomes and learning rather than serving other purposes that may be secondary.