A Resident-Led Quality Improvement Project in a Community Based Hospital Emergency Department – The Benefits of Simplified Plan-Do-Study-Act/Patient-Safety Quality Improvement Projects Regardless of Staffing Levels

Abstract

Introduction An emergency department (ED) resident believed ED patients, who needed a simple laceration repair, would be better served if the ED used a laceration cart for supplies, as opposed to the hunt-and-gather method for collecting needed supplies. To address this issue, a two-step Plan-Do-Study-Act/Patient-Safety quality improvement (PDSA/PS QI) project was initiated, with the intent that the project could be completed in a timely manner regardless of staffing levels. The primary purpose of the project was two-fold: 1) to explore the possible time-to-repair benefits of using a laceration repair supply cart in the emergency department and 2) to determine the feasibility of conducting a simple multi-cycle PDSA/PS QI project in a potential staffing-shortage environment. Methods A prospective study using a simple 2-cycle PDSA/PS QI procedure was initiated. During cycle 1, baseline data, to determine the time to complete simple-laceration repairs using a hunt-and-gather supply process, was collected in the form of sign-out/return sheets located next to a laceration repair kit. Cycle 2 introduced the use of a simple-laceration supply cart in the ED, with data collected in the form of a sign-out/return sheet located on the supply cart. Data analysis included a two-sample Wilcoxon rank-sum (Mann-Whitney) test to assess the effectiveness of the suture cart implementation. Results Pre-intervention. Twelve valid cases were recorded on the sign-out/return sheets. The baseline time range to complete a simple laceration repair varied from 26 minutes to 151 minutes, with an average of 68.3 minutes (SD=40.8). Post-intervention. Twenty-nine valid cases were recorded on the revised sign-out/return sheet. The time to complete a simple laceration repair, using the supply cart, varied from 10 minutes to 116 minutes, with a mean of 36.9 minutes (SD=25.0), a statistically significant average decrease (p = 0.005) of 31.4 minutes. Conclusion The use of a suture repair cart in the ED reduced the time required for physicians to perform a simple laceration repair. A minimal 2-cycle PDSA/PS QI process allowed residents and staff to participate in a quality-improvement project, even in a potential staffing-shortage environment.