|
Information for
Clinicians
Overview
Business Case
eLearning Calendar
About Blood Management
What is Blood Management?
Why Blood Management?
10 Facts About Blood
The Strategic Blood Management™ System
Blood Management Perspectives
References
Client List
Client Testimonials
|
INFORMATION FOR CLINICIANS
Overview
Transfusion of blood products is one of the most common interventions in the hospital setting. Twenty-nine million blood components are transfused each year, equating to nearly 80,000 blood components every day. Of great significance is the fact that a large portion of these blood products are not administered according to evidence-based practices, thereby consuming a precious resource without benefit to patients. Most physicians who order blood products lack formal training in transfusion therapy and nursing schools generally fall short in their training for transfusion safety and blood administration competency.
This lack of education and training complicates the decision to transfuse since it must be made in the context of an informed risk-to-benefit analysis. While it is true that through donor screening and testing the blood supply is the safest ever, blood transfusions are inherently dangerous and cause some degree of harm in every patient. Although the risk of viral transmission has been greatly reduced, the greatest risks to transfused patients are non-infectious hazards. Transfusion of blood products to the wrong patient (mistransfusion) is one of the leading causes of complications and death, along with transfusion related acute lung injury (TRALI) and transfusion associated circulatory overload (TACO).
A growing body of evidence has also shown that blood transfusions correlate highly with increased rates of infection and poorer clinical outcomes because of transfusion related immunomodulation (TRIM). Despite these concerns, some physicians continue to over-utilize blood component therapy and order transfusions in a liberal fashion inconsistent with current scientific evidence. What has become increasingly obvious is that unnecessary transfusions are not only wasteful but are harmful and need to be avoided. Adding to these issues is the fact that blood utilization oversight is lacking as demonstrated by studies showing wide variations in transfusion practice between hospitals and among physicians at the same hospital.
What is Blood Management >>
Why Blood Management >>
Ten Facts About Blood Transfusions >>
A Strategic Approach to Blood Management
Strategic Blood Management™ is an end-to-end solution to evaluate current blood utilization patterns then design, implement and support comprehensive blood management programs. Developed by Dr. Tim Hannon and his team of experts from Strategic Healthcare Group LLC, the process seeks to reduce variation in transfusion practice and implement more efficient methods to manage patients at risk for transfusion. This innovative process has resulted in transfusion reductions from 13% to 37% with improved clinical outcomes and decreased risk exposure (view business case).
The Strategic Blood Management™ System >>
|
“When you talk about blood management, no other organization can talk about all aspects with such clarity and accuracy. They (SHG) really give you a sense of the market nationally and how it affects you. The audit really opened our eyes and gave us the incentive to make blood management a major quality focus for our organization.”
“My biggest lesson learned was that we as an organization lacked the understanding of how dangerous blood is. That was an unknown to me! There is a patient outcome reason for this process. It’s not just about the money. Cost savings is a by-product. It’s about great care delivery. That’s a better way to get people at the table.”
“Transfusion medicine has evolved amazingly and we still have a lot of physicians out there practicing medicine that they may have learned 20 or 30 years ago that was taught by their resident and nowadays doesn’t apply. Strategic Healthcare Group goes into the hospital, they look at the records, they look and see how are transfusions being done and then they can start making the appropriate changes…this is really such a vital link.”
|
