A Novel Open-Source Novel App Improves Anesthesia Operating Room Equipment Supply

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Health Informatics
• Quality Improvement

Background:

• Anesthesia providers rely on immediate availability of specialized equipment and drugs.
• Supply deficiencies in operating rooms negatively impact efficiency and patient safety.
• Lack of dedicated anesthesia support staff led to frequent equipment shortages in the institution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a mobile application for tracking and reporting anesthesia equipment shortages.
• To assess the impact of the app on reporting frequency and supply chain management.
• To identify common equipment issues and their impact on operating room operations.

Main Methods:

• A mobile app was developed to collect data on equipment availability, comparing paper records (2 months) with app usage (12 months).
• Descriptive statistics were used to analyze reporting trends, types of missing items, and reported impacts.
• Outcomes measured included reporting rates, impact on patient safety and operating room efficiency, and common supply chain issues.

Main Results:

• The app increased reporting by over 300% compared to previous paper documentation.
• 549 items were reported missing, with airway-related equipment (49.9%) and specific laryngoscope blades (17.3%) being most common.
• Missing items were frequently reported to impact patient safety (15.7%) and operating room efficiency (21.3%).

Conclusions:

• A mobile app is an effective tool for real-time tracking and reporting of anesthesia equipment shortages.
• The app facilitated data-driven improvements in staffing and supply chain management, reducing equipment deficits.
• The developed app is easily implemented and shows potential for use in other clinical settings.