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Linda0623

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  1. Like
    Linda0623 got a reaction from Yvette in Cell-Salvage Regulations   
    Hi Logan,
    I am an AABB perioperative assessor  (and laboratory manager  )that  works at a facility in Boston MA that uses cell salvage on over 3,000 cases annually. We have 11 machines, and although we are not (yet) accredited by AABB, with the work we have done with our program, we are hoping to be accredited for periop by our next BB inspection.
    I got involved in this because our SVP for surgical services asked me, as the resident AABB SME, LOL, to evaluate effectiveness of cell salvage at our facility. She wanted us to adhere to the AABB standards and thought I was their best candidate to lead the effort. 6 years later, the past practice is truly history.
    To answer your question, we do QC quarterly on each machine that we have in use--- Hgb and Albumin. AABB allows you to decide what and how much is needed, but for quality purposes, you really do need something to make sure your equipment (and operator) is obtaining the best possible product for the patient in between PM's. If you would like more information on our approach, I am happy to share what we do, just message me and I will give you my work contact information.
    Between Cell Salvage and other specific PBM strategies, we have reduced our organization-wide transfusion ratio per adjusted patient discharge, from 0.78 to 0.17, in ~5 years time. ( Caveat: The cell salvage program overhaul took some time and was truly implemented last).  I actually like to think it is because Blood Bank is involved, but honestly, it takes a village and I had to build influence up with the surgical services team and make really good use of my role as Transfusion Committee Facilitator to make things happen.
    Best,
    Linda
  2. Like
    Linda0623 got a reaction from carol1 in Cell-Salvage Regulations   
    Hi Logan,
    I am an AABB perioperative assessor  (and laboratory manager  )that  works at a facility in Boston MA that uses cell salvage on over 3,000 cases annually. We have 11 machines, and although we are not (yet) accredited by AABB, with the work we have done with our program, we are hoping to be accredited for periop by our next BB inspection.
    I got involved in this because our SVP for surgical services asked me, as the resident AABB SME, LOL, to evaluate effectiveness of cell salvage at our facility. She wanted us to adhere to the AABB standards and thought I was their best candidate to lead the effort. 6 years later, the past practice is truly history.
    To answer your question, we do QC quarterly on each machine that we have in use--- Hgb and Albumin. AABB allows you to decide what and how much is needed, but for quality purposes, you really do need something to make sure your equipment (and operator) is obtaining the best possible product for the patient in between PM's. If you would like more information on our approach, I am happy to share what we do, just message me and I will give you my work contact information.
    Between Cell Salvage and other specific PBM strategies, we have reduced our organization-wide transfusion ratio per adjusted patient discharge, from 0.78 to 0.17, in ~5 years time. ( Caveat: The cell salvage program overhaul took some time and was truly implemented last).  I actually like to think it is because Blood Bank is involved, but honestly, it takes a village and I had to build influence up with the surgical services team and make really good use of my role as Transfusion Committee Facilitator to make things happen.
    Best,
    Linda
  3. Like
    Linda0623 got a reaction from AMcCord in Cell-Salvage Regulations   
    Hi Logan,
    I am an AABB perioperative assessor  (and laboratory manager  )that  works at a facility in Boston MA that uses cell salvage on over 3,000 cases annually. We have 11 machines, and although we are not (yet) accredited by AABB, with the work we have done with our program, we are hoping to be accredited for periop by our next BB inspection.
    I got involved in this because our SVP for surgical services asked me, as the resident AABB SME, LOL, to evaluate effectiveness of cell salvage at our facility. She wanted us to adhere to the AABB standards and thought I was their best candidate to lead the effort. 6 years later, the past practice is truly history.
    To answer your question, we do QC quarterly on each machine that we have in use--- Hgb and Albumin. AABB allows you to decide what and how much is needed, but for quality purposes, you really do need something to make sure your equipment (and operator) is obtaining the best possible product for the patient in between PM's. If you would like more information on our approach, I am happy to share what we do, just message me and I will give you my work contact information.
    Between Cell Salvage and other specific PBM strategies, we have reduced our organization-wide transfusion ratio per adjusted patient discharge, from 0.78 to 0.17, in ~5 years time. ( Caveat: The cell salvage program overhaul took some time and was truly implemented last).  I actually like to think it is because Blood Bank is involved, but honestly, it takes a village and I had to build influence up with the surgical services team and make really good use of my role as Transfusion Committee Facilitator to make things happen.
    Best,
    Linda
  4. Like
    Linda0623 got a reaction from John C. Staley in Cell-Salvage Regulations   
    Hi Logan,
    I am an AABB perioperative assessor  (and laboratory manager  )that  works at a facility in Boston MA that uses cell salvage on over 3,000 cases annually. We have 11 machines, and although we are not (yet) accredited by AABB, with the work we have done with our program, we are hoping to be accredited for periop by our next BB inspection.
    I got involved in this because our SVP for surgical services asked me, as the resident AABB SME, LOL, to evaluate effectiveness of cell salvage at our facility. She wanted us to adhere to the AABB standards and thought I was their best candidate to lead the effort. 6 years later, the past practice is truly history.
    To answer your question, we do QC quarterly on each machine that we have in use--- Hgb and Albumin. AABB allows you to decide what and how much is needed, but for quality purposes, you really do need something to make sure your equipment (and operator) is obtaining the best possible product for the patient in between PM's. If you would like more information on our approach, I am happy to share what we do, just message me and I will give you my work contact information.
    Between Cell Salvage and other specific PBM strategies, we have reduced our organization-wide transfusion ratio per adjusted patient discharge, from 0.78 to 0.17, in ~5 years time. ( Caveat: The cell salvage program overhaul took some time and was truly implemented last).  I actually like to think it is because Blood Bank is involved, but honestly, it takes a village and I had to build influence up with the surgical services team and make really good use of my role as Transfusion Committee Facilitator to make things happen.
    Best,
    Linda
  5. Like
    Linda0623 got a reaction from ANORRIS in Cell-Salvage Regulations   
    Hi Logan,
    I am an AABB perioperative assessor  (and laboratory manager  )that  works at a facility in Boston MA that uses cell salvage on over 3,000 cases annually. We have 11 machines, and although we are not (yet) accredited by AABB, with the work we have done with our program, we are hoping to be accredited for periop by our next BB inspection.
    I got involved in this because our SVP for surgical services asked me, as the resident AABB SME, LOL, to evaluate effectiveness of cell salvage at our facility. She wanted us to adhere to the AABB standards and thought I was their best candidate to lead the effort. 6 years later, the past practice is truly history.
    To answer your question, we do QC quarterly on each machine that we have in use--- Hgb and Albumin. AABB allows you to decide what and how much is needed, but for quality purposes, you really do need something to make sure your equipment (and operator) is obtaining the best possible product for the patient in between PM's. If you would like more information on our approach, I am happy to share what we do, just message me and I will give you my work contact information.
    Between Cell Salvage and other specific PBM strategies, we have reduced our organization-wide transfusion ratio per adjusted patient discharge, from 0.78 to 0.17, in ~5 years time. ( Caveat: The cell salvage program overhaul took some time and was truly implemented last).  I actually like to think it is because Blood Bank is involved, but honestly, it takes a village and I had to build influence up with the surgical services team and make really good use of my role as Transfusion Committee Facilitator to make things happen.
    Best,
    Linda
  6. Like
    Linda0623 got a reaction from jasmine in Cell-Salvage Regulations   
    Hi Logan,
    I am an AABB perioperative assessor  (and laboratory manager  )that  works at a facility in Boston MA that uses cell salvage on over 3,000 cases annually. We have 11 machines, and although we are not (yet) accredited by AABB, with the work we have done with our program, we are hoping to be accredited for periop by our next BB inspection.
    I got involved in this because our SVP for surgical services asked me, as the resident AABB SME, LOL, to evaluate effectiveness of cell salvage at our facility. She wanted us to adhere to the AABB standards and thought I was their best candidate to lead the effort. 6 years later, the past practice is truly history.
    To answer your question, we do QC quarterly on each machine that we have in use--- Hgb and Albumin. AABB allows you to decide what and how much is needed, but for quality purposes, you really do need something to make sure your equipment (and operator) is obtaining the best possible product for the patient in between PM's. If you would like more information on our approach, I am happy to share what we do, just message me and I will give you my work contact information.
    Between Cell Salvage and other specific PBM strategies, we have reduced our organization-wide transfusion ratio per adjusted patient discharge, from 0.78 to 0.17, in ~5 years time. ( Caveat: The cell salvage program overhaul took some time and was truly implemented last).  I actually like to think it is because Blood Bank is involved, but honestly, it takes a village and I had to build influence up with the surgical services team and make really good use of my role as Transfusion Committee Facilitator to make things happen.
    Best,
    Linda
  7. Like
    Linda0623 got a reaction from David Saikin in Cell-Salvage Regulations   
    Hi Logan,
    I am an AABB perioperative assessor  (and laboratory manager  )that  works at a facility in Boston MA that uses cell salvage on over 3,000 cases annually. We have 11 machines, and although we are not (yet) accredited by AABB, with the work we have done with our program, we are hoping to be accredited for periop by our next BB inspection.
    I got involved in this because our SVP for surgical services asked me, as the resident AABB SME, LOL, to evaluate effectiveness of cell salvage at our facility. She wanted us to adhere to the AABB standards and thought I was their best candidate to lead the effort. 6 years later, the past practice is truly history.
    To answer your question, we do QC quarterly on each machine that we have in use--- Hgb and Albumin. AABB allows you to decide what and how much is needed, but for quality purposes, you really do need something to make sure your equipment (and operator) is obtaining the best possible product for the patient in between PM's. If you would like more information on our approach, I am happy to share what we do, just message me and I will give you my work contact information.
    Between Cell Salvage and other specific PBM strategies, we have reduced our organization-wide transfusion ratio per adjusted patient discharge, from 0.78 to 0.17, in ~5 years time. ( Caveat: The cell salvage program overhaul took some time and was truly implemented last).  I actually like to think it is because Blood Bank is involved, but honestly, it takes a village and I had to build influence up with the surgical services team and make really good use of my role as Transfusion Committee Facilitator to make things happen.
    Best,
    Linda
  8. Thanks
    Linda0623 got a reaction from Malcolm Needs in Gold Medal.   
    Absolutely fantastic news and well deserved! Congratulations!!!!
  9. Like
    Linda0623 reacted to Malcolm Needs in Gold Medal.   
    I am enormously honoured to announce that I am going to be awarded the Gold Medal of the British Blood Transfusion Society at their Annual Scientific Meeting in Brighton this year.  It is awarded to an individual for their exceptional and long standing services to the Society and to the practice of blood transfusion in the UK.  Sorry if this sounds egocentric, but I am very excited.
  10. Like
    Linda0623 got a reaction from Maureen in I'm coming back to Providence!   
    Marking my  calendar as we speak! It will be awesome to see and hear you lecture again Malcolm! As Kate says, Providence is "just down the road a piece" from Boston  
  11. Like
    Linda0623 got a reaction from Malcolm Needs in I'm coming back to Providence!   
    Marking my  calendar as we speak! It will be awesome to see and hear you lecture again Malcolm! As Kate says, Providence is "just down the road a piece" from Boston  
  12. Like
    Linda0623 reacted to kate murphy in I'm coming back to Providence!   
    I've put it on my schedule - and I will certainly be there this time!  Providence is just a skip down the road from Boston...
  13. Like
    Linda0623 reacted to Malcolm Needs in I'm coming back to Providence!   
    Thanks to a very generous invitation from the organisers (in particular Phil Hoffman, aka Dr Pepper on this site, and Maddie Josephs, Chair) I will be attending and speaking at the 69th Annual Clinical Laboratory Science Convention - Central New England (ASCLS - CNE) taking place at the Rhode Island Convention Center between May 9th and May 11th 2017.  I will be talking on Wednesday 10th May 2017, giving a lecture entitled, "An In Depth Description of the Kell Blood Group System." and then, after a well-deserved break for the delegates, and for those that can stand it, a second lecture entitled, "King Henry Viii, McLeod Syndrome, Chronic Granulomatous Disease and Kx."
    Sorry if this comes across as being "big headed", but I am really excited about coming back over to the USA.    
  14. Like
    Linda0623 reacted to David Saikin in SBB Exam Materials   
    I studied Mollison, The Technical Manual, Garrity and Petz, and the Pittiglia Blood Bank Book plus made flash cards for the blood group systems.  If you are just looking for a book to study to pass the test . . . well I think that is the wrong attitude.  I had a tech who wanted to know if she should take the test.  I told her that if she could afford to lose the $$$ go ahead 'cuz look at all the knowledge you'd gain studying for the thing.
  15. Like
    Linda0623 got a reaction from AMcCord in Galileo & ECHO reagent controls   
    hi Rashmi,
    I think the answer to your question is.....sort of.....I'm thinking possibly both.....Here is the scenario...... in March/April, I noticed several patients that were presenting as DAT negative, probable warm auto antibodies when run on the ECHO, but if I had them repeated in tube, (both PEG and LISS, and also did complete tube DAT), all was negative. After much back and forth with Immucor Tech support, who were quite insistent that nothing was wrong with the assays, I finally got them to dispatch service because we started to get random errors during testing which indicated the system was not delivering or detecting reagents/specimens that had plenty of volume for processing. After 2 days of going over things, the ONLY concerning finding was that during one of the test cycles of priming the fluidics, PBS was dropped onto the plate deck where the stripholders are lined up for pipetting. This was with both the current and a brand new probe. After long thought out consideration by field service, several parts were ordered. One was a tiny board that controls the probe pipetting mechanism. This stopped the errors we were receiving regarding the level sense.......
    Now, why do I think this is relevant? Since this part was replaced, I have not seen any more of these solid-phase related DAT negative, all screen/panel cells positive cases, that were negative in tube (PEG and Liss.....)....thus removing cross contamination and this type of false positive ID's......What do you think?
    Linda
  16. Like
    Linda0623 reacted to Malcolm Needs in Anti-CD38 therapy   
    Ah, the need to use correct terminology rears its ugly head again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  17. Like
    Linda0623 reacted to Dr. Pepper in Transfusion Safety Officer   
    There's the key right there. The easy things to do are the ones you have total control over. The difficult ones are when they involve other areas.....
  18. Like
    Linda0623 got a reaction from Dr. Pepper in Transfusion Safety Officer   
    Good Morning-
    I have attended the UBS course,  and have found it extremely valuable. I am a blood bank manager and we do NOT have either a TSO position in our hospital, nor have we a formal blood management program.
    I used the knowledge I gained to empower transfusion committee to push for several blood management strategies to be implemented, and our organization is realizing great benefits since I attended the class in Sep 2014.
    We have reduced transfusions by over 50% and are still realizing continued reductions 14 months later. We are predominantly orthopedics based, and after a presentation to our arthroplasty group this past fall, we are in the process of writing/publishing our process improvement project as best practices in orthopedics.
    The class was comprised of~50% each RN's and Blood Bank supervisors/managers, and there were sessions included to help each background learn/understand each other's roles and what they bring to a TSO position. The rest of the class is very good as well---highly technical and indepth in many subjects despite the actual brevity of the full course. Strong BB, donor collection, and quality tools is helpful as the course does help push you to the next level.
    My belief is the best background for the TSO'---IF the basis of your program is to also advocate for strong blood management processes to be employed, can be either professional background as long as they are set to colloborate well between BB and various medical disciplines, because without their buy in, the benefits of a trememdous amount of hard work that needs to be put in, may wind up being minimal/unsustainable.
    Just one colleagues journey--hope it helps and if anyone has more questions on the course or how I used the lessons learned, I'm happy to try to help!
  19. Like
    Linda0623 got a reaction from Maureen in Transfusion Safety Officer   
    Good Morning-
    I have attended the UBS course,  and have found it extremely valuable. I am a blood bank manager and we do NOT have either a TSO position in our hospital, nor have we a formal blood management program.
    I used the knowledge I gained to empower transfusion committee to push for several blood management strategies to be implemented, and our organization is realizing great benefits since I attended the class in Sep 2014.
    We have reduced transfusions by over 50% and are still realizing continued reductions 14 months later. We are predominantly orthopedics based, and after a presentation to our arthroplasty group this past fall, we are in the process of writing/publishing our process improvement project as best practices in orthopedics.
    The class was comprised of~50% each RN's and Blood Bank supervisors/managers, and there were sessions included to help each background learn/understand each other's roles and what they bring to a TSO position. The rest of the class is very good as well---highly technical and indepth in many subjects despite the actual brevity of the full course. Strong BB, donor collection, and quality tools is helpful as the course does help push you to the next level.
    My belief is the best background for the TSO'---IF the basis of your program is to also advocate for strong blood management processes to be employed, can be either professional background as long as they are set to colloborate well between BB and various medical disciplines, because without their buy in, the benefits of a trememdous amount of hard work that needs to be put in, may wind up being minimal/unsustainable.
    Just one colleagues journey--hope it helps and if anyone has more questions on the course or how I used the lessons learned, I'm happy to try to help!
  20. Like
    Linda0623 reacted to amym1586 in Transfusion Safety Officer   
    That is exactly what I was hoping to hear Linda !  
     
    Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us.   I will definitely be putting in a request to go next year.  
  21. Like
    Linda0623 got a reaction from David Saikin in Transfusion Safety Officer   
    Good Morning-
    I have attended the UBS course,  and have found it extremely valuable. I am a blood bank manager and we do NOT have either a TSO position in our hospital, nor have we a formal blood management program.
    I used the knowledge I gained to empower transfusion committee to push for several blood management strategies to be implemented, and our organization is realizing great benefits since I attended the class in Sep 2014.
    We have reduced transfusions by over 50% and are still realizing continued reductions 14 months later. We are predominantly orthopedics based, and after a presentation to our arthroplasty group this past fall, we are in the process of writing/publishing our process improvement project as best practices in orthopedics.
    The class was comprised of~50% each RN's and Blood Bank supervisors/managers, and there were sessions included to help each background learn/understand each other's roles and what they bring to a TSO position. The rest of the class is very good as well---highly technical and indepth in many subjects despite the actual brevity of the full course. Strong BB, donor collection, and quality tools is helpful as the course does help push you to the next level.
    My belief is the best background for the TSO'---IF the basis of your program is to also advocate for strong blood management processes to be employed, can be either professional background as long as they are set to colloborate well between BB and various medical disciplines, because without their buy in, the benefits of a trememdous amount of hard work that needs to be put in, may wind up being minimal/unsustainable.
    Just one colleagues journey--hope it helps and if anyone has more questions on the course or how I used the lessons learned, I'm happy to try to help!
  22. Like
    Linda0623 got a reaction from goodchild in Transfusion Safety Officer   
    Good Morning-
    I have attended the UBS course,  and have found it extremely valuable. I am a blood bank manager and we do NOT have either a TSO position in our hospital, nor have we a formal blood management program.
    I used the knowledge I gained to empower transfusion committee to push for several blood management strategies to be implemented, and our organization is realizing great benefits since I attended the class in Sep 2014.
    We have reduced transfusions by over 50% and are still realizing continued reductions 14 months later. We are predominantly orthopedics based, and after a presentation to our arthroplasty group this past fall, we are in the process of writing/publishing our process improvement project as best practices in orthopedics.
    The class was comprised of~50% each RN's and Blood Bank supervisors/managers, and there were sessions included to help each background learn/understand each other's roles and what they bring to a TSO position. The rest of the class is very good as well---highly technical and indepth in many subjects despite the actual brevity of the full course. Strong BB, donor collection, and quality tools is helpful as the course does help push you to the next level.
    My belief is the best background for the TSO'---IF the basis of your program is to also advocate for strong blood management processes to be employed, can be either professional background as long as they are set to colloborate well between BB and various medical disciplines, because without their buy in, the benefits of a trememdous amount of hard work that needs to be put in, may wind up being minimal/unsustainable.
    Just one colleagues journey--hope it helps and if anyone has more questions on the course or how I used the lessons learned, I'm happy to try to help!
  23. Like
    Linda0623 got a reaction from amym1586 in Transfusion Safety Officer   
    Good Morning-
    I have attended the UBS course,  and have found it extremely valuable. I am a blood bank manager and we do NOT have either a TSO position in our hospital, nor have we a formal blood management program.
    I used the knowledge I gained to empower transfusion committee to push for several blood management strategies to be implemented, and our organization is realizing great benefits since I attended the class in Sep 2014.
    We have reduced transfusions by over 50% and are still realizing continued reductions 14 months later. We are predominantly orthopedics based, and after a presentation to our arthroplasty group this past fall, we are in the process of writing/publishing our process improvement project as best practices in orthopedics.
    The class was comprised of~50% each RN's and Blood Bank supervisors/managers, and there were sessions included to help each background learn/understand each other's roles and what they bring to a TSO position. The rest of the class is very good as well---highly technical and indepth in many subjects despite the actual brevity of the full course. Strong BB, donor collection, and quality tools is helpful as the course does help push you to the next level.
    My belief is the best background for the TSO'---IF the basis of your program is to also advocate for strong blood management processes to be employed, can be either professional background as long as they are set to colloborate well between BB and various medical disciplines, because without their buy in, the benefits of a trememdous amount of hard work that needs to be put in, may wind up being minimal/unsustainable.
    Just one colleagues journey--hope it helps and if anyone has more questions on the course or how I used the lessons learned, I'm happy to try to help!
  24. Like
    Linda0623 got a reaction from AuntiS in Transfusion Safety Officer   
    Good Morning-
    I have attended the UBS course,  and have found it extremely valuable. I am a blood bank manager and we do NOT have either a TSO position in our hospital, nor have we a formal blood management program.
    I used the knowledge I gained to empower transfusion committee to push for several blood management strategies to be implemented, and our organization is realizing great benefits since I attended the class in Sep 2014.
    We have reduced transfusions by over 50% and are still realizing continued reductions 14 months later. We are predominantly orthopedics based, and after a presentation to our arthroplasty group this past fall, we are in the process of writing/publishing our process improvement project as best practices in orthopedics.
    The class was comprised of~50% each RN's and Blood Bank supervisors/managers, and there were sessions included to help each background learn/understand each other's roles and what they bring to a TSO position. The rest of the class is very good as well---highly technical and indepth in many subjects despite the actual brevity of the full course. Strong BB, donor collection, and quality tools is helpful as the course does help push you to the next level.
    My belief is the best background for the TSO'---IF the basis of your program is to also advocate for strong blood management processes to be employed, can be either professional background as long as they are set to colloborate well between BB and various medical disciplines, because without their buy in, the benefits of a trememdous amount of hard work that needs to be put in, may wind up being minimal/unsustainable.
    Just one colleagues journey--hope it helps and if anyone has more questions on the course or how I used the lessons learned, I'm happy to try to help!
  25. Like
    Linda0623 reacted to Cliff in What are your thoughts on the upgrade?   
    Thank you.
    The search is much improved over the prior search.  This is an actively worked on version by the software vendor.  I held off a very long time waiting for a solid and stable version, so it seemed like a really big upgrade for us.  There will be a lot of small incremental upgrades that will happen at least monthly.  I probably won't even announce those unless there is a great new feature.
     I am not the blood bank manager here, but the compliance officer.  A little less stressful I imagine.  I eat plenty, something I have been trying to cut down on, and sleeping is highly overrated.
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