Purpose: There are three main objectives of the research presented in this paper: to examine the challenges of using an electronic adverse incident recording and reporting system; to assess the method of using a prevention appraisal and failure model; and to identify the benefits of using quality costs in conjunction with incident reporting systems.
Design/methodology/approach: Action diary, documentation and triangulation are used to obtain an understanding of the challenges and critical success factors in using quality costing within an adverse incident recording and reporting system.
Findings: The paper provides healthcare professionals with the critical success factors for developing quality costing into an electronic adverse incident recording and reporting system. This approach would provide clinicians, managers and directors with information on patient safety issues following the effective use of data from an electronic adverse incident reporting and recording system.
Originality/value: This paper makes an attempt of using a prevention, appraisal and failure model (PAF) within a quality-costing framework in relation to improving patient safety within an electronic adverse incident reporting and recording system.