Strategic Healthcare Group signs agreement with the American Red Cross

INDIANAPOLIS, April 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Strategic Healthcare Group LLC announced today an agreement with the American Red Cross to provide blood management consultation at two client hospitals.

"We are very proud to enter into this agreement with Strategic Healthcare Group," said Scott Buker, Director of National Accounts, Biomedical Services, American Red Cross. "The Strategic Blood Management system will help the hospitals we serve to manage their blood more wisely. As more of our client hospitals recognize the value of blood management programs, Strategic Healthcare Group has the potential of becoming an important partner in our ongoing
efforts to promote appropriate blood use."

Escalating blood costs and intermittent blood shortages are encouraging blood centers and hospitals to find more efficient ways to manage the value chain for blood products. The Strategic Blood Management™ system helps hospitals improve blood utilization and reduce costs through its three core services: blood management audit and benchmarking; blood management program development and support; and the Blood eManagement™ web-based training system.

"We are pleased that the ARC has chosen to partner with us in their efforts to promote the appropriate use of blood products," said Tim Hannon, MD, MBA, CEO of Strategic Healthcare Group. "The time has come for the focus on blood safety and availability to shift from blood centers to hospitals through better blood utilization. Blood management is an evidence-based, multidisciplinary process that promotes the safe and optimal use of blood components within the hospital."

According to Dr. Richard Benjamin, Chief Medical Officer of the American Red Cross Biomedical Services, evidence-based utilization of blood products is essential to the organization's mission as a steward of the nation's blood supply. "The American Red Cross strongly supports efforts to foster the appropriate use of blood products. I look forward to working closely with Dr. Hannon and his team to successfully achieve this goal."