What is the principal tool used by risk managers for incident documentation?

The principal tool used by risk managers for incident documentation is the occurrence report. This type of report is specifically designed for capturing details about incidents that occur within a healthcare facility, which could potentially lead to harm or adverse events. Occurrence reports are essential for identifying trends, facilitating investigations, and implementing preventive measures to enhance patient safety.

These reports provide a structured format to document the facts of the incident, including the time, location, individuals involved, and a description of what occurred. This information is crucial for thorough analysis and for developing strategies to mitigate future risks.

In contrast, while other forms of reports such as event reports, clinical incident reports, and accident logs may also document incidents, they often serve more specific purposes or cover different contexts that might not be as comprehensive or standardized as an occurrence report. As such, risk managers rely on occurrence reports for consistent, detailed, and effective documentation of incidents.