Michelle Davies1, Keith Couper2, Julie Bradley1, Annalie Baker1, Natalie Husselbee1, Sarah Woolley3, Robin P Davies4, Gavin D Perkins5. 1. Resuscitation Service, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK. 2. Academic Department of Anaesthesia, Critical Care, Pain and Resuscitation, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK; Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK. 3. Patient Safety Team, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK. 4. Resuscitation Service, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK; Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK. 5. Academic Department of Anaesthesia, Critical Care, Pain and Resuscitation, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK; Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK. Electronic address: g.d.perkins@warwick.ac.uk.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Effective and safe cardiac arrest care in the hospital setting is reliant on the immediate availability of emergency equipment. The patient safety literature highlights deficiencies in current approaches to resuscitation equipment provision, highlighting the need for innovative solutions to this problem. METHODS: We conducted a before-after study at a large NHS trust to evaluate the effect of a sealed tray system and database on resuscitation equipment provision. The system was evaluated by a series of unannounced inspections to assess resuscitation trolley compliance with local policy prior to and following system implementation. The time taken to check trolleys was assessed by timing clinicians checking both types of trolley in a simulation setting. RESULTS: The sealed tray system was implemented in 2010, and led to a significant increase in the number of resuscitation trolleys without missing, surplus, or expired items (2009: n=1 (4.76%) vs 2011: n=37 (100%), p<0.001). It also significantly reduced the time required to check each resuscitation trolley in the simulation setting (12.86 (95% CI: 10.02-15.71) vs 3.15 (95% CI: 1.19-4.51)min, p<0.001), but had no effect on the number of resuscitation trolleys checked every day over the previous month (2009: n=8 (38.10%) vs 2011: n=11 (29.73%), p=0.514). CONCLUSION: The implementation of a sealed tray system led to a significant and sustained improvement in resuscitation equipment provision, but had no effect on resuscitation trolley checking frequency.
INTRODUCTION: Effective and safe cardiac arrest care in the hospital setting is reliant on the immediate availability of emergency equipment. The patient safety literature highlights deficiencies in current approaches to resuscitation equipment provision, highlighting the need for innovative solutions to this problem. METHODS: We conducted a before-after study at a large NHS trust to evaluate the effect of a sealed tray system and database on resuscitation equipment provision. The system was evaluated by a series of unannounced inspections to assess resuscitation trolley compliance with local policy prior to and following system implementation. The time taken to check trolleys was assessed by timing clinicians checking both types of trolley in a simulation setting. RESULTS: The sealed tray system was implemented in 2010, and led to a significant increase in the number of resuscitation trolleys without missing, surplus, or expired items (2009: n=1 (4.76%) vs 2011: n=37 (100%), p<0.001). It also significantly reduced the time required to check each resuscitation trolley in the simulation setting (12.86 (95% CI: 10.02-15.71) vs 3.15 (95% CI: 1.19-4.51)min, p<0.001), but had no effect on the number of resuscitation trolleys checked every day over the previous month (2009: n=8 (38.10%) vs 2011: n=11 (29.73%), p=0.514). CONCLUSION: The implementation of a sealed tray system led to a significant and sustained improvement in resuscitation equipment provision, but had no effect on resuscitation trolley checking frequency.