Hospitals in pursuit of excellence

Improvement in Patient Safety and Quality of Inpatient Care Through Appropriate Blood Product Management

The hospital carried out a multidisciplinary team-based approach to improving the safety and appropriateness of packed red blood cells transfusion. Evidence based guidelines for appropriate usage of blood products and a standardized order set were developed. Compliance with the guidelines was monitored and lessons were incorporated to effect rapid cycle change.

The program resulted in a 33.6 percent decrease in PRBC transfused per 1,000 patient days over a 10 month period while PRBC transfused for hemoglobin levels above 7 g/dl decreased from 73.6 percent to 49.6 percent.

A decrease in multiple unit transfusions was achieved by encouraging practitioners to transfuse one unit of PRBC in stable patients followed by clinical reassessment of the need for further transfusion.

This case study is part of the Illinois Hospital Association's annual quality awards. Each year, IHA recognizes and celebrates the achievements of Illinois hospitals in continually improving and transforming health care in the state. These hospitals are improving health by striving to achieve the Triple Aim--improving the patient experience of care (including quality and satisfaction); improving the health of populations; and reducing the per capita cost of health care.

Award recipients achieve measurable and meaningful progress in providing care that is:

• Safe
• Timely
• Effective
• Efficient
• Equitable
• Patient-centered

(The Institute of Medicine's six aims for improvement.)