How to Monitor Blood Utilization

It may not surprise you that blood utilization in the United States ranks higher than other countries. In 2009, it ranked 44 percent higher here than it did in Canada. Cost, compliance and education affect blood utilization levels. An older population and more complicated procedures means that blood use will continue to rise. Also, transfusions carry inherent risks. Many medical professionals are not properly trained in transfusion guidelines and best practices. If you want to monitor blood utilization, use a multi-pronged approach.

Instructions

• 1

  Initiate a blood management system. The goal of the system is to use blood appropriately according to outlined protocols for optimal care that are safe and conservative. A good system takes into account all resources involved in blood utilization. You need transfusion guidelines based on evidence of what works and what does not. You require a knowledgeable staff from different disciplines to oversee the blood management system. A blood management system serves as the umbrella strategy under which all other blood utilization practices fall.

• 2

  Use process-improvement strategies for blood utilization. Six Sigma is a technology-based strategy driven by rigorous data collection and analysis. It uses a five-stage process to determine where errors might occur in processes and what changes to implement for better performance. It also goes by the term "lean management." Another applicable process-improvement technique is change acceleration process model. This strategy works to get buy-ins from important leadership roles to make the changes necessary to improve systems.

• 3

  Use the best practices in blood utilization. A maximum blood order schedule is one such practice. Create a list of commonly scheduled surgeries and the blood units typically needed for each. With this schedule, you can order the correct amount of blood units before surgeries begin. Make sure you employ proper tracking and labeling of blood inventory. Other examples of good practices include completing blood utilization audits and reminder posters about blood transfusion protocols. Create standardized blood transfusion criteria and put these into practice. They can help avoid mistakes, blood waste, infections and more.

• 4

  Hire a consultant to evaluate blood utilization. He can perform data analysis, make suggestions for changes in policies and procedures, ensure appropriate compliance for blood transfusion and more. This could be the first step in monitoring blood utilization with a more formal strategy implemented after the consultant's evaluation is revealed. It also can help identify whether a newly implemented blood management strategy is working or needs improvement.

• 5

  Use specific software to capture blood utilization information. There are several different software programs applicable to the blood utilization monitoring process. One is offered by Premier called Quality manager. A case study by St. Vincent (a 720-bed hospital in the Indianapolis area), used a software program to more effectively and quickly capture blood utilization data. The results were positive.