rcollins

Auntie-D, I certainly didn't set out to insult anyone.  I was simply commenting from my experiences and those I have heard from others.  The tone of your response was certainly accusatory.  One of the things I appreciate most about this site is the openess of the members and I hope it stays that way to encourage conversation.
 
Confirmation bias does not mean that someone was intentionally careless, it is often subconsious.  There is also plenty of use for 2nd checks (we use several), but it should not always be the answer without an investigation of the process.  Unnecessary checks can bog down a process, add cost and time, and sometimes not even add to the safety/accuracy of the process.  

I did say it wasn't a serious question. I thought it looked like a cute little robin, wearing sunglasses, waving at me

Meditech users:
 
We have just installed a custom (not a rule but custom hard code) in C/S version 5.66 that causes all specimens to expire at 2359 regardless of the time of specimen collection.  It will not be generally available as a DTS.
 
If you want this feature, you will have to press Meditech for it.

Hi Kathy,
We too have rotation of non-dedicated BBers through the dept. We do have BloodTrack as a good tool for tracking not only the blood, but the actions of our scientists. I have just read a good article in TRAQ on "nudging". I have followed up with other reading (plenty of references in Govt, financial world etc) on the subject.
I have for a while been keeping a matrix, with names on the vertical list, error types on the horizontal. I complete this for each month (for those found or reported to me). I then anonymise for all other staff members (keeping just the name of the one you give the matrix to). This is done for all staff and they can easily see if they are outside the norm. This has lead to a kind of competition among staff (so I have been told) and this has "nudged" them into better compliance with requirments. I try to keep them to really important requirments, but will consider expanding to other niggles (like not doing daily QC' on a new batch when old batch is likely to run out on next shift).
 
Bit of work, but I have found it worthwhile.
 
I do the same with minor specimen / form errors (labelling, lack of information etc) from around the hospital  - and graph shows a definite reduction in non-compliant requests / specimens after its introduction. Majors go through the CAPA system.
 
Cheers
Wayne 

We are half your size and have all generalists.  Lately I've made things like this a question of respect for the job and our hospital coworkers.  We expect excellence from phlebotomy and nursing in regards to specimen collection and transfusion of products.  No questions, hesitation or excuses.  We expect excellence from our blood suppliers in regards to safety and quality of products.  If something's not perfect, we're not using it.  How can we do that with a straight face if we do not expect excellence from ourselves?  If someone calls me a BB nag I agree with them and just tell them that we need our actions to match the excellence we expect from others.
 
They're starting to get it and starting to trust that anyone who rotates through there gets it, too.  Blood Bankers have always been called "different" and that's a good and necessary thing.  Any generalist who is in our blood bank that day is, indeed, a "Blood Banker."
 
It's annoying to nag most days but if you keep at it, it will get better!  Or the ones who get tired of you will leave.  Oh well.
 
Good luck to you!
 
Becky

We are half your size and have all generalists.  Lately I've made things like this a question of respect for the job and our hospital coworkers.  We expect excellence from phlebotomy and nursing in regards to specimen collection and transfusion of products.  No questions, hesitation or excuses.  We expect excellence from our blood suppliers in regards to safety and quality of products.  If something's not perfect, we're not using it.  How can we do that with a straight face if we do not expect excellence from ourselves?  If someone calls me a BB nag I agree with them and just tell them that we need our actions to match the excellence we expect from others.
 
They're starting to get it and starting to trust that anyone who rotates through there gets it, too.  Blood Bankers have always been called "different" and that's a good and necessary thing.  Any generalist who is in our blood bank that day is, indeed, a "Blood Banker."
 
It's annoying to nag most days but if you keep at it, it will get better!  Or the ones who get tired of you will leave.  Oh well.
 
Good luck to you!
 
Becky

It might also help sometimes to "catch them being good".  Notice when they do good things and mention them. Many techs bust their bums to take care of a bleeding patient which we all have come to see as "just doing their job" but if we at least recognize the importance of their work to the good of the patient I think it helps them feel valued and sometimes more motivated.  Of course, streamlining and creating systems where things pop up at the right time can help.  An example of the latter is that we have to QC the Rad-Sure indicators when they come in but then might not open that box for months.  When we do, we need the QC info to be on the log sheet for irradiated units.  So, when we get in a new lot and QC it, we record the QC information on a blank log form and wrap it around the box of indicators.  When they open the box of the new lot, they have to take the form off to get it open so they remember to put the new form in the log notebook and start using it with the new lot number on it.  It seems silly, but it has worked.

You will enjoy this parody of the hip hop song "Thrift Shop", especially the blood bank part. There are a few profanities, but after all, it's a rap song.

Are you putting a label with E0773 on the bag?
E0773 Thawed FRESH FROZEN PLASMA|CPD/XX/refg
E0773 works only if your original FFP was CPD plasma. If you put this label on plasma that was collected in any other anticoagulant it is mislabeled.