What are the first steps to promoting an organized approach to Blood Management?
Data is a great motivator, not only from national or regional areas, but more importantly from your own hospital. For example, you might collect transfusion rates, costs, and outcomes of transfused and non-transfused patients in the same procedural codes or DRG's.
Tally census numbers per transfusion. Evaluate your local blood bank charges over the last 5 years and any potential increases. Inquire regarding the number of days in the last year that elective surgery cases were cancelled due to blood shortages or if at any time there was less than a 1-day supply for the region.
Form an investigative committee. This could be comprised of physicians, nurses and other medical professionals that are similarly motivated.