Authors (including presenting author) :
Cheung GCM, Leung KKY, Wong JTM, Chan DYC, Leung KLK
Affiliation :
Physiotherapy Department, Kowloon Hospital
Keyword 1: :
Community Physiotherapy
Keyword 2: :
Reporting System
Introduction :
Community physiotherapy plays a crucial role in patient rehabilitation, which facilitates patients discharged back to community and minimizes rehospitalization. While in Kowloon Hospital, a variety of community services are available e.g. domiciliary physiotherapy, Community Geriatric Assessment Service and Integrated Care and Discharge Support for Elderly Patients. Staff needs to travel for different durations to various locations. Dealing with heterogenous case mixes, staff requires more time to deal with patient data and location report to the supervisor. A new reporting system was introduced with the use of "HA Chat" app for all community service among staff and supervisors.
Objectives :
The objectives were to investigate the effectiveness of new reporting system for community physiotherapists in terms of staff safety and patient data privacy aspects.
Methodology :
Staff use “HA chat” to input types of service and patient contact information to their supervisor before going out for conducting community service since December 2024. Immediate report of locations via HA chat to supervisor was also implemented. Actions involved training sessions in using the systems, regular team discussions for system enhancement input, monthly audits of message logs for compliance and staff efficacy survey to measure perceptions of safety, satisfaction, and areas for improvement. The approach utilized emerging resources to ensure sustainability and ease of adoption.
Result & Outcome :
From December 2024 to November 2025, involving 10 community physiotherapists and 1446 home visits, 100% staff compliance to location reporting system was achieved with no patient data privacy incidents reported. Paperless reporting system via secured and officially accredited e-system safeguards staff safety and patient data privacy. The instant and precise location report uplifts the communication between frontline staff with department, therefore more prompt staff support can be executed if needed even the staff is not in the hospital. Staff surveys showed 100% agreement in perceived safety. Qualitative feedback emphasized greater sense of security during visits and appreciation for the balanced design of both safety, privacy and efficiency. With a better communication by this new system, staff clinical duties arrangement can be better organized and therefore improve service effectiveness. To conclude, the new reporting system illustrated safe, secure and timely communication among frontline community physiotherapist with department, meanwhile strengthened patient data privacy in community healthcare settings.
