Patient Blood Management (PBM) refers to an evidence-based and multidisciplinary approach of adjusting and optimizing the type of care that patients receive, especially those who might need a certain type of blood transfusion. There are numerous types of blood transfusion procedures that can be done today; and there are many medical conditions that may require one to be executed. Each condition and blood transfusion process has its own set of indications and contraindications (plus precautions) and this is what highlights the need for a standardized and high quality PBM approach.
Previously discussed topics such as cross-matching, electronic release, and cellular and plasma management all contribute to the greater goal of improving existing PBM approaches. What one has to be able to reflect on, is the fact that as more conditions that require blood transfusion, and blood transfusion techniques get discovered, the higher the need for a much better and improved PBM approach would be.
The three pillars of PBM are the: optimization of red cell mass, minimization of blood loss and bleeding, and harnessing and optimization of physiological reserves of anemia. For all the three pillars, the goal preoperatively should be to detect, identify, and manage all pre-existing conditions that might contribute to the outcomes of the PBM. During the intraoperative phase, the goal for the three pillars would be to employ techniques that boost the efficiency of the process such as patient positioning, use of pharmacological agents, ventilation optimization, among others. For the post-operative phase, the goal for the three pillars is to minimize any possible effects or secondary complication of the PBM process.
The 10 tips on managing inventory of blood products basically serve as a guideline that PBM professionals can follow. They include: understanding your inventory, providing expert training, setting appropriate inventory levels, keeping procedures simply, building collaborative relationships, using a first in, first out approach, optimizing cross matching procedures, maintaining all equipment appropriately, having a plan to conserve inventory in times of shortage, and having an existing patient blood management program (e.g. Blood Net) . Just like other guidelines, these 10 tips should be continuously reviewed and updated to make sure that the best practice would be employed in the industry. Moreover, being able to follow these guidelines do not always guarantee a hundred percent success rate or a flawless blood product inventory process. In this case, it would still be best to adhere to the existing standards and procedures set by the blood product institution a professional is affiliated with. This is because these ten tips may vary from one organization to another.
Blood Net is an online system that enables staff from health facilities in Australia to order blood and other blood products in a systematic and standardized manner. This means that these procedures are executed online; the main deliverable would of course be the blood and blood products. This is theoretically faster and more organized because the institution needing the blood would not have to go through the traditional way of requesting for blood products which are often lengthy and convoluted. The steps involved in using Blood Net start from an order for blood being lodged at a hospital laboratory, followed by that order being received immediately at the nearest Blood Service Distribution Center; the ordered items than are collected from the storage facilities at the Blood Service; this is followed by the order being loaded into a courier van for dispatch to the hospital laboratory.; the items then arrive in the facility that made the order. The next step involves recording of the receipts in Blood Net using the laboratory’s existing scanners. After arriving at the requesting laboratory or facility, the items are then stored in ready for testing, collection, and use .
Bibliography
Green, R. n.d.. 10 Tips on Managing Blood Product Inventory. Patient Blood Management and Inventory Control, 01-22.
Green, R. n.d.. Blood Net. Patient Blood Management and Inventory Control, 01-22.
