Enhancing Emergency Department Safety: Implementation of a Dedicated Chest Drain Trolley to Optimize Care for Pneumothorax Patients

Delays in accessing chest drain equipment in the Emergency Department (ED) posed significant risks to patient safety, particularly for those with life-threatening pneumothorax. This quality improvement project (QIP) aimed to reduce these delays by implementing a dedicated chest drain trolley using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) methodology. Surveys and simulations identified key issues, including equipment inaccessibility and staff unfamiliarity, with baseline preparation times exceeding 20 minutes. Iterative changes, such as labeling drawers, reorganizing supplies, and creating checklists, reduced preparation times to 6-7 minutes. Real-case feedback highlighted improved efficiency, staff confidence, and patient safety. This project demonstrates the value of structured quality improvement approaches in enhancing emergency care.