Institution: Southern Health and Social Care Trust
Department: Emergency Medicine
Project Leads: Dr. Angela Cullen & Dr. Cara McCarthy
Presentation Venue: Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM)
Problem Addressed: Delays and stress due to difficulty locating equipment in Emergency Department
Tool Introduced: Eolas Medical app
The Core Problem
A common phrase heard too often in the ED:
“Does anyone know where I would find the…?”
Locating essential equipment quickly is vital for safe and efficient emergency care. The existing system suffered from:
• Disorganisation and inconsistent storage
• High cognitive and time burden on staff
• Disruption to patient care and staff morale
• Additional risks to infection control
Despite their best efforts, staff were spending a significant proportion of their shift simply searching for equipment.
The Evidence
A multi-phase “ED Treasure Hunt” audit was conducted:
• September 2021: Baseline time tracking during routine tasks
• September 2022: Repeat analysis with introduction of the Eolas Medical app
Key Findings:
• In 2021, staff spent 41% of patient assessment time locating equipment
• On initial timed attempts, it took 74 minutes to locate a set list of items
• With repetition, this dropped to 23 minutes, showing potential for training
The Intervention
The Eolas Medical App was enhanced with a searchable, structured map of the Emergency Department’s equipment locations:
• ED catalogued using a grid system (columns A–Z, rows 1–30)
• Equipment linked to grid references in the app
• Available on both phones and desktops
• Updated to accommodate frequent departmental changes
In 2022, with Eolas Medical App available:
Without the App - 52 minutes
Using Eolas Medical App - 10 minutes
80% reduction in time spent locating equipment
Benefits Observed
Massive Efficiency Gains
• 5x faster equipment retrieval
• Reduced interruptions to patient care
• Time saved translates to more clinician–patient interaction
Improved Patient Safety & Flow
• Faster access to critical tools reduces delays in emergency interventions
• Less cognitive overhead improves focus on decision-making
Staff Morale & Burnout Relief
• Less frustration and confusion, especially for rotating/new staff
• Reduces onboarding friction during busy periods
• Addresses WHO’s standards of timely, equitable, and efficient healthcare
Key Takeaways
• Time wasted finding equipment is a universal issue in Emergency Medicine.
• Introducing a structured, searchable interface via the Eolas Medical App proved transformative.
• This initiative offers a scalable, low-burden solution with high impact — enhancing patient care, staff wellbeing, and departmental efficiency.
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