The implementation phase for the change was just as important as the development of the carts. Dr. Weier and his team used staff meetings, education sessions, and checklists with photographs as part of the introduction of the carts, which took place at all sites. Continual feedback from providers ensured that the fine-tuning of the carts and their contents would be ongoing. The ED staff and physicians are so convinced that these standardized carts have improved care and increased efficiency and value that they are in the process of developing other carts for use throughout the system.

Dr. Weier and his team presented this work at the ED Innovations 2014 conference held in Las Vegas form February 19–21. It will be my pleasure to share with you more of the innovations that were showcased as posters at the conference. And apropos of the work done in Plano, I challenge you to return to your own department and “clean up your act!”

Dr. Welch is a practicing emergency physician with Utah Emergency Physicians and a research fellow at the Intermountain Institute for Health Care Delivery Research. She has written numerous articles and three books on ED quality, safety, and efficiency. She is a consultant with Quality Matters Consulting and her expertise is in ED operations.