Authors (including presenting author) :
Kwok NC, Lam MS, Li WT, Lo OYJ, Tsoi YK
Affiliation :
Geriatrics and Rehabilitation Service, Department of Medicine, Haven of Hope Hospital
Keyword 1: :
Shift Handover
Keyword 2: :
Smart Initatives
Keyword 3: :
Ward Operation
Keyword 4: :
Real-time Updates
Keyword 5: :
Remote Access
Keyword 6: :
Communication
Introduction :
Effective shift handover is essential in daily ward operations to ensure continuity of patient care, clinical safety and efficient teamwork. Traditional paper-based handover notes are environmentally unfriendly, difficult to store and prone to errors. The manual and time-consuming process of copying information and updating infection control map increases nursing workload resulting in incomplete, unclear, or inaccurate information transfer, which affecting patient safety and workflow. Aligning with the Hospital Authority’s Smart Hospital strategy, a smart shift handover system is introduced to address these issues.
Objectives :
1. Enhance communication effectiveness during shift handover through a standardized and smart approach. 2. Improve operational efficiency by reducing time spent on manual recopying. 3. Minimize miscommunication and information omissions to support patient safety. 4. Optimize nursing manpower by streamlining handover processes, allowing nurses to focus more on direct patient care.
Methodology :
1. A nursing workgroup developed an electronic shift handover template using Microsoft Excel, replacing paper-based handover notes. The template was implemented for daily use by nurses-in-charge. 2. The Patient Care Information System was integrated for infection status updates, replacing the manual infection control map to enhance accuracy. 3. Briefings were provided and feedback was collected to evaluate usability. The template was refined based on the feedback.
Result & Outcome :
A survey of all shift nurses-in-charge in ward 1B (N=13) showed: 1. Overall satisfaction was 90.8%. 2. 93.9% preferred the electronic method over paper-based handover. 3. 89.2% reported that the electronic shift handover was more convenient, efficient and time-saving, with time spent on handover documentation reduced by 5-10 minutes. 4. 93.8% noted a reduction in repetitive tasks during handover preparation. 5. 93.8% agreed that the system reduced information omissions and miscommunication caused by unclear handwriting. 6. 86.2% considered automated features like date formatting and bed status calculation reduced documentation and manual counting errors, thereby improving accuracy. 7. 87.7% found the interface simple and user friendly, and reported that the system made reviewing past information easier compared to paper-based records. 8. 96.9% agreed the system was environmentally friendly and aligned with the Hospital Authority’s smart hospital direction. Additional comment from ward manager, remote access sped up two-way communication, improved the precision of shift transition, and allowed her to receive real-time updates on ward situation.
