Santa Casa adopts the Shift Handover app and reduces paper use in the Hospital
Technology was developed by the IT department of the Santa Casa Foundation itself
Developed jointly by the information technology and networks and infrastructure management of Santa Casa do Pará, based on the demands of the institution's assistance sectors, the shift handover app has completed its testing phase, restricted use, and evaluation, and will now be used by other professional categories, in addition to nursing.
"The app was approved after 18 months of collaborative development between the nurses of the Santa Maria and Frei Caetano Surgical Clinics and the IT team. This process included weekly meetings, requirement gathering, usability testing, and technical validations, ensuring that the tool was built in an integrated manner with the assistance reality of the units," explains nurse Clélia Andrade, who worked on the development of the tool.
Developed in mobile and web formats, the tool is currently in use in the web version in 100% of the inpatient units and in 67% of the surgical centers, with the goal of reaching 100% by the end of the year, facilitating the recording and monitoring of information in real-time.
The nurses working in the assistance areas of Santa Casa were the first to use the app. After months of experience in the Santa Maria ward, nurse Maira Quaresma considers the tool an ally in strengthening the safety and quality of the service provided to the patient.
"Communication between shifts has become clearer, standardized, and efficient, ensuring a safer and more aligned assistance flow with the most concrete assistance practices. With the continuous use of the electronic shift handover, we realize that it is a tool that adds value and helps in assistance, as it is readily and easily accessible to facilitate the understanding of the previous shift, making the nurses on duty more confident in the assistance they will provide," says the nurse.
Currently, the app is in the implementation phase with the medical team, with the training and capacity-building expected to be completed by the end of June. Next, the physiotherapy team will be integrated, allowing the tool to have a multidisciplinary application within the institution.
"The implementation of the app represents a milestone in the modernization of assistance processes, aligning technology, safety, and quality in patient care. The institution thus reinforces its commitment to excellence in health and the continuous improvement of its services," concludes nurse Clélia Andrade.
The mobile version of the tool is expected to be implemented in the second half of 2025, which will allow professionals to access and update patient information at the bedside, further optimizing the workflow.
With the web version in effective use, teams continue to contribute to the ongoing improvement of the tool's functions and are seeing a leap in quality in the recording of information for each shift, as explained by nurse Annely Góis, who works in the surgical center of Santa Casa.
"Before the shift handover app, we recorded this in Word, which we edited ourselves, but it carried the risk of being deleted and losing the data. With the shift handover app implemented in the hospital's system, everything becomes more reliable, not only for professionals but also for patients, as it is something that has been fed since admission, so we can access the patient from the moment the regulation enters them into the system," explains nurse Annely.
Main benefits of the app implementation:
Effective communication: aligned with the international Patient Safety goal, the app standardizes and directs essential information about the patient, promoting a safe and effective transition between shifts and teams. This structured communication reduces the risk of information failures, increasing assistance safety.
Speed and efficiency: integration with the electronic medical record allows critical data such as patient name, bed, and medical record number to be automatically imported, avoiding duplicate records and ensuring information consistency. This saves the team's time and reduces manual errors.
Sustainability: with the digitization of processes, there is no need for paper prints, contributing to environmental preservation and a more sustainable institutional practice.
Quality of care: by reducing bureaucratic steps, the app allows healthcare professionals to dedicate more time to direct patient care, strengthening the humanization of assistance. The professional gains quick access to clinical information, optimizing decision-making and planning of assistance.
Multiprofessional integration: the tool is being expanded to other professional categories (medical team and physiotherapy), enabling an interdisciplinary approach to care and promoting more coordinated and resolutive assistance.
Information security: all data is stored securely and with restricted access to authorized professionals, respecting current data protection legislation and patient privacy.
