What is a Crash Cart?
A Crash cart, also known as an emergency cart, or Code Blue cart, is essential hospital equipment used in emergency situations, especially for cardiac arrest or serious medical emergencies (commonly known as “Code Blue”). The cart typically includes essential emergency equipment and supplies, such as an ECG monitor, defibrillator, oxygen tank, syringes, medications, and other tools needed during a resuscitation effort. It is designed to ensure that medical teams can quickly access the necessary equipment and medications in critical situations where a patient’s condition suddenly worsens, enabling efficient and timely care.
Challenges with Traditional Crash Carts
Despite the critical role of traditional crash carts in emergency care, increasing complexity in healthcare demands and emergencies reveal some challenges in their use:
1.Time-Consuming Inventory Checks:
After use or at shift changes, staff need to check and replenish the cart’s contents, which is a time-consuming and laborious process. Nurses have to manually verify each item, leading to wasted time and potential inaccuracies, resulting in carts possibly lacking necessary supplies for the next emergency.
2.Difficulty Managing Expiry Dates for Medications and Supplies:
The medications and supplies in a crash cart have expiration dates, and improper management can lead to expired items remaining in the cart, potentially affecting patient safety in emergencies. Additionally, the disposal of expired items leads to waste and raises hospital operational costs.
3.Inaccurate Record-Keeping of the Resuscitation Process:
Traditional carts rely on handwritten or verbal communication for record-keeping during and after resuscitation. This often leads to incomplete or inaccurate documentation, which affects tracking and reviewing treatment plans. Team members may overlook record-keeping details under the pressure of emergency care, which can impact follow-up care.
Features and Solutions of IoT-Enabled Smart Crash Cart
To address these challenges, the Internet of Things (IoT) technology is applied to next-generation smart crash cart. These carts improve efficiency and accuracy in emergency response and information management. Key features and solutions include:
1.Automated Inventory Management:
Smart crash carts use built-in sensors to monitor and record items taken from the cart. The system tracks the type, quantity, and usage of each item in real-time. Automated inventory reports help hospitals manage restocking schedules and ensure the cart is always fully stocked, eliminating the need for manual checks.
2.Expiry Date Alerts for Medications and Supplies:
The cart includes a tracking system for monitoring expiration dates of all medications and supplies. When an item nears expiration, the system alerts staff to use or replace it before it becomes a risk. This system prevents waste due to expired items and ensures reliable emergency supplies are available.
3.Comprehensive Recording and Traceability of the Resuscitation Process:
Smart crash carts can record the entire resuscitation process using built-in audio recording devices. This feature captures treatment instructions and procedures in detail, allowing the healthcare team to review and learn from each event. These records also provide reference data in case of future disputes or need for review, ensuring transparent information and minimizing medical risks.
Advantages of Smart Crash Carts
The smart crash cart represents not just an upgrade over traditional carts but a significant improvement in workflow and patient safety management. With more precise supply management, timely expiration alerts, and complete process tracking, these carts enhance the efficiency and success rates of emergency care. They help optimize resource management in hospitals and enable medical teams to perform resuscitations quickly, accurately, and safely, ensuring patients receive timely and comprehensive care.
