Redesign of Bedside Supply Carts to Improve Emergency Department Workflows: Mixed Methods Participatory Design

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Operations
• Human Factors Engineering
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Emergency departments (EDs) face challenges with chaotic environments and supply chain inefficiencies.
• Disorganized, non-standardized, and poorly stocked supply carts lead to significant patient care delays.
• Inefficient supply acquisition impacts nursing workflow and contributes to burnout.

Purpose of the Study:

• To improve the workflow for supply acquisition in an ED using human-centered and participatory design.
• To optimize the management of medical supplies within bedside carts.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods, participatory design approach (double diamond framework) was employed.
• Qualitative data on nursing workflows and quantitative inventory data were integrated.
• Rapid-cycle prototyping was used to redesign bedside supply carts in collaboration with ED staff.

Main Results:

• Supply acquisition time decreased by approximately 20% overall.
• Availability of critical medical supplies tripled.
• Restocking frequency reduced from once per shift to once every three shifts.
• Identified misallocation of supplies, with high-frequency items underrepresented.

Conclusions:

• Participatory design, incorporating human factors principles and end-user input, enhances supply stocking.
• Improved access to appropriate supplies positively impacts patient care and reduces nurse burnout.
• Redesigning hospital supply carts using human factors engineering aligns with clinical workflows and improves efficiency.
• Co-design ensures sustainable solutions addressing critical stakeholder needs.