[New TraQ case study]

Hi, all,

A new case study on TraQ:

Case Study O2: Communication tools for managing patients with special transfusion needs (fludarabine therapy):

http://www.traqprogram.ca/Cases-O/cases.asp

Case O2 is still in the review stage and visitors are welcome to contribute additional communication tools and ideas.

Cheers, Pat

[Introducing TraQ]

Hi, all,

Just wanted to introduce you to the TraQ website:

http://www.traqprogram.ca/

It has all kinds of goodies that you may find useful, including a resource library and interactive case studies.

Cheers, Pat

[Benchmark for transfusion reactions]

Hi, John,

About benchmark data for transfusion reactions, I would caution that they are particularly hard to benchmark meaningfully since there are many factors that affect transfusion reaction rate, including

* patient population (particularly the % of multi-transfused patients, who would be expected to have higher rates)

* % of patients transfused with platelets (rates are much higher for this group)

* how rigorous the criteria are that are used to define what consitutes a reaction (facilities that look for them using defined criteria would be expected to have higher rates; different criteria would produce different reaction rates)

* type of product transfused (facilities transfusing ony leukoreduced products may have lower rates)

For rates to be applicable facilites should be relatively closely matched these factors.

Cheers, Pat