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Scalpel At The Cross
We developed a reliable, offline-ready EMR system with built-in surgery planning and inventory management modules to support surgical missions in remote regions.
A problem worth solving
Scalpel At The Cross (SATC) is a US-based nonprofit organization that provides orthopedic surgical care and rehabilitation services to communities in the Peruvian Amazon. Several times a year, the mission sends volunteer medical teams to remote locations with limited or no Internet access.
SATC clinicians relied on paper notes, disconnected tools, and high-risk manual data transfer. Records were difficult to share across devices, and important data was frequently lost. The organization needed a single, secure electronic medical records (EMR) solution that would work reliably offline and help teams stay coordinated, even in the most resource-limited settings.
EffectiveSoft partnered with the organization to design and implement this system from the ground up.
Client
Scalpel At The Cross
Country
USA
Domain
Solution
Service
Custom software development
Technology
C#, TypeScript, Angular 8
How we tackled it
Our team began the project by gathering requirements, focusing not only on technology but also on how SATC clinicians work during their medical missions. Doctors evaluate patients in makeshift clinics, moving quickly between locations, usually without Internet access. Therefore, for SATC, it was essential to have a system that enabled reliable data exchange between the doctors’ devices, where records are often stored offline, and a central storage point.
To address this need, we developed a set of iPad applications connected to a local server administered through an admin panel. This setup allows doctors to work with the EMR system directly in remote environments. We designed the architecture so that information on the doctors’ devices synchronizes with the local server—and with other devices on the same Wi-Fi network—as soon as a connection becomes available. Only the local server communicates with the cloud, transmitting consolidated data when Internet access is available. Beyond supporting an offline-first workflow, this architecture also ensures strong data security and privacy, system reliability, and improved operational control.
See also:
EHR Integration Services
We equipped the application with key modules
The EMR system we developed comprises three key modules tailored to SATC’s workflows.
Patient records
All essential patient information is stored in one place, making it easier for healthcare professionals to provide accurate and timely treatment. The EMR system contains general patient information; history of visits and injuries; results of physical examinations; photos, videos, and X-rays of injuries; and diagnosis and treatment plans. Medical alerts help clinicians prioritize urgent conditions and reduce delays.
Doctors can record details about detected pathologies, diagnoses, surgical priorities, and treatment types, ensuring critical information is always available. Access to the records is secured with unique PINs, providing data protection while keeping the login process simple.
Surgery planner
The surgery planner lists all patients who need surgery during a medical campaign. Staff can quickly assign them to an operating room with simple drag-and-drop scheduling. The system also provides a clear view of each operating room’s timetable, as well as information about the surgeons involved.
Before each procedure, a surgeon creates a pick list—an organized list of the equipment and supplies needed—so that every operation is properly prepared and patients receive safe, timely care.
Inventory management
The inventory management module ensures that medical teams maintain adequate supplies of the instruments and materials they need throughout campaigns. By reviewing and tracking all instruments and materials, the system helps doctors and volunteers provide uninterrupted, high-quality care.
An evaluation chart, covering the inventory and EMR systems, keeps medical campaigns transparent by listing the cost of each procedure, noting the materials used, and showing how resources are spent.
Result
The new unified, secure, and offline-ready EMR system enables SATC to deliver coordinated, high-quality care in remote Peruvian regions. Authorized users can now access complete patient histories, plan surgeries, and manage supplies even without an Internet connection, significantly improving team collaboration and efficiency during medical campaigns. With reliable, centralized data, the organization can allocate resources more effectively and gain a better understanding of community needs.