Ambulatory Care Focus Group Workshop

Representatives from the Voluntary and Auxiliary organisations attended a very productive workshop in the PHECC offices in Naas in August. Discussion centred on the development of an appropriate log, register or report which will capture data on a patient who presents at the First Aid post at an Event with an injury which is believed to be minor in nature. The views of the group were explored on:


  1. What constitutes a minor injury
  2. An alternative term for ‘minor injury’
  3. Where should minor injury data be recorded?
  4. Is the ACR in its current form appropriate?
  5. Should the ACR be revised?
  6. What data fields should be recorded?
  7. Should a new log or register be developed? 

The group agreed that a) the current ACR should be revised and the development of a national log or register not be pursued b) the ACR should include a sequential number which can be used as an identifier for the report in the absence of a Control Centre/ Incident number as is the case at smaller Events which take place on a weekly basis around Ireland.

Brief discussion also took place on alternative avenues for the capture of data electronically and or web publication of the Event activity data. The management and the interrogation of the data were acknowledged as being an integral part of the strategic management for the future and there was a general consensus that capturing Event data electronically is the ultimate objective of the organisations.		   The current Ambulatory Care Report ACR will continue to be in use. Distribution of the ACRs is organised by PHECC to all Organisation headquarters at their request. Each organisation manages their individual national distribution.

Remember the following points when completing the ACR:

  1. Complete it accurately - this is an essential requirement when completing all documents. Distinguish between what the patient states and what you observe.
  2. Make sure the patient details are complete – a complete account of your interaction with the patient. 
  3. Ensure legibility and correctness – illegible reports can be easily misinterpreted. Patient name, incident details, care management and treatment details are essential data particulars which should be completed on all patients.
  4. Additional information which you record on the ACR must be objective and not include opinions or value judgements.
  5. The ACR should be completed real-time or as close to the time of care as possible.
  6. The PIN or name of the care giver should always be recorded. 

Ambulatory Care Report (ACR) currently used to capture data by all Voluntary and Auxiliary Organisations at Events: