Is there a Blood Bank computer software system developed by a Blood Banker out there anywhere?

There is a good question.  Don't know the answer.  I'm certain all the leading vendors have BBers on their staff.  I've been looking (for more than a few yrs).  and trying to get one approved.  We settled on Soft, but looked at HCLL (Mediware - wish they hadn't canned HemoCare), and McKesson's product (Horizon but I think they no longer support it).  Cerner, Sunquest have modules you can purchase for lots of $$$.  Psyche has a stand alone - I'm sure there are others.  Every once in a while CAP magazine does an expose on all available ones.

The most important question and requirement is, "Does it have FDA approved Computer Crossmatch?".  Secondly, as BBK supervisor, you must have administrative access to the configuration tables and parameters.  If it is controlled by IT, don't bother. you won't like any vendor.  BBK supervisors have a vested interest in being able to configure the software to their needs.  To IT, it is just another application they have to manage, in addition to all the others currently on their plate.

Great points Dansket.  I am a BBer and work in IT and you are right, it is "just another application to manage" but as a former BB sup I make sure that what I build makes sense from a BB perspective.  There are so many pieces to the puzzle it is often hard to keep them all straight and organized.

 

And many of our sites did their own validations so by the time we got to go live the BB sups were well aware of system functionality and where there were "got 'chas".

 

crsmith, most of the vendors have BBers on staff but they don't do the hard coded programming.  If you are in the market shop around, see if you can talk to an actual end user about the likes/dislikes of their system.  And yes, go for the computer crossmatch, you'll be glad you did.

 

This is a big decision and no system does it all.  Good luck!  

I have found that it is not so much the computer system but how it is set up. The user buys a shell & dictionaries/ truth tables/ result entry screens, etc. are set up by the user. The personnel filling in these holes should be blood bankers. If the personnel setting up dictionaries think the indicator control on the ECHO weak D test is a weak D control, the calculations for the weak D may require a positive weak D control result in the weak D result entry screen in the computer. Computer cross match is great!

doesn't necessarily need a computer xm (there are some Medical Directors/staff who can't deal with that).  As the end user you usually get to set up the truth tables to meet your testing requirements.   Occasionally you have to modify some of your procedures to accommodate the BBIS.  Then you will have to validate your truth tables, warning messages, etc. etc.  The FDA has an interesting " How to validate a BB computer system" guidance on its website - read it.  Your system is considered a medical device so you will be accountable for any vagaries associated with its operation.

If you work for a corporation where the computer is shared between different facilities, the end user may have very little say in how the computer is set up & what changes are made in the computer. I would give my computer a C-, but I have seen the same system set up differently in another facility & would give that one a B+. That probably goes back to a blood banker controlling the computer options.

Is it set up at both/all facilities by the same folks?  Do you have to share the same tables, etc? Do you have the same policies/procedures as the other facilities?  If the last one is not true I  don't see how one system can work for all.

The computer is set up by a central group with everyone using same tables, etc. Each facility has its own policies using different methodologies. They keep saying there are blood bankers setting the computer up & modifying result entry screens & truth tables, but they are long removed from the bench & the newer technologies. The computer is very confusing.