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May 2024 Challenge

martha

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Posts posted by martha

    First inspection as chief tech. Am I going to be nervous for the next 3 months?

    in All other topics

    Posted

    I have been the chief tech at my current employer for 1 1/2 years. Prior to that I was a blood bank tech for 20 years. I know blood banking, but having only been a chief tech for a short time, I know that there is a lot that I don't know as far as regulations and performance improvement. As such, I fully expect that the inspectors (AABB/CAP) are going to find something that I have missed. I did do my self-inspection and I know we are strong in some areas and need clarification in others. It is impossible for me to fully address everything in the short time I have been there and with so many other things going on (new hospital computer system with CPOE, four new pieces of equipment, laboratory move within the inspection window period...).

    The window period starts Monday and I have been nervous for the past week. I know who my inspectors are, and due to their education level (SBB and master's degree), I am already intimidated. I am very hard on myself when I am criticized, so the virtual certainty that they will find something (no matter how minor), is going to be difficult for me emotionally. I do know that this is a great learning opportunity, so I look forward to that aspect of the inspection.

    Is there anything that will help make this time easier for me so that I can calm down and stay focused, rather than being on edge? I would much prefer to just get this thing over with, but I doubt they are going to come earlier in the inspection cycle.

    Kathy, Relax! I have no doubt in my mind that you will do good. Have confidence in your team and in your self.

    Passed the ASCP,SBB!!

    in Education / Quality

    Posted

    Just a "Shout Out" to all the great folks on Blood Bank Talk who helped, and supported me, in achieving a passing score on the ASCP, SBB exam! I started studying in March of 2009 and never stopped until today. I passed the exam yesterday. Thought I'd never be able to Pass, but I did!! I am very proud of my accomplishment and encourage all of the folks out there who are currently studying to stick with it. Schedule your exam, and go for it.

    Thanks again to all who supported my efforts.

    Special thanks to Malcolm Needs! Your excellent instructional aids, posted in the Document Library, helped me answer at least 5 of the SBB questions correctly, without hesitation.

    Best Regards,

    Congratulatons!

    Neonatal RBC Transfusions

    in Transfusion Services

    Posted

    Can anyone tell me if their standard practice for neonatal RBC transfusions is to provide WASHED PRBC's (in addition to CMV (-) and irradiated product), and if so, do you wash the cells in-house or does your local Blood Center provide the washed units?

    :) Our standard practice for neonates is leukodepleted and irradiated products. We do not wash RBC for neonatal transfusion. We only wash RBC for our ECMO patients and we do it inhouse.

    Pediatric male trauma patients

    in Transfusion Services

    Posted

    Our massive transfusion protocol includes children along with women of child bearing years in the O Neg category. I would not want to expose a 3 year old male to Rh Pos if not confirmed; they would take a lower volume of red cells anyway, so the issue of "wasting" too many O Neg units is not as prevalent as in an adult.

    I agree with you on not wanting to expose a 3 year old male to Rh positive. We are in the process of creating a massive transfusion protocol for pediatrics. Would you be so kind to share yours?

    Martha.delgado@MCH.com.

    Thanks

    Urgent Cooler Question

    in Education / Quality

    Posted

    I have used various coolers to send blood to the OR, in the different Institutions I have worked in. However, in trying to look for the website on 2 different types, I cannot find anything. Do these coolers still exist?

    One is ThermoSafe and the other is Cell-Safe. This new Hospital opens July 12th so time if of the essence for me to place orders. :eek:If any of you have contact information for either/both of these (or any other company that uses the "freeze" bottles), please let me know.

    Also, I have always used the Safe-T-Vue 10 temp. monitors. After reading a recent discussion, am wondering if the coolers for OR are supposed to store blood only at 1-6C instead of the 1-10C that probably many of us have, or still do, use. Does anyone use the Safe-T-Vue 6 Monitors? If yes, do you have any trouble with them turning red frequently?

    Thanks very much!

    Brenda Hutson, CLS(ASCP)SBB

    Brenda,

    You can purchase the Thermosafe coolers from Market Lab 1800-237-3604 and the Safe-T-vue 6 from

    Williams Laboratories1-860-749-1350. I just purchased both items.

    Martha

    Happy Birthday to me

    in All other topics

    Posted

    tomorrow's my birthday. Don't feel obligated to send me an amazon gift card, or a vacation voucher. :cool:

    I guess i'm just a big kid. My wife got me the coolest present, legos!

    [attach]191[/attach]

    happy birthday ! Hope you have a great day !

    Martha

    Transfusion Review Committee

    in Transfusion Services

    Posted

    I am aso from Miami , Florida and I have to disagree with David Saikin , Miami is not a third world country. In the Hospital were I work everyone speaks English and the physicians obtained their medical degree in the USA .The committee meets Quarterly and it's chair by one of our Hematology/oncology physicians. We have representation from nursing, infection control, anesthesioly , PI, transfusion services and our Medical Director. We present monthly statics, waste,appropriateness, transfusion reactions and any incident report related to blood products. The committee also reviews and recommends on any issue that has to do with blood products. This year our goal is to reduce our waste by 50 %.

    Martha Delgado, BS MT (ASCP)

    ECMO Center transfusion protocol

    in All other topics

    Posted

    Kesia,

    Thank You for respond. We use washed cells on all ECMOs and I am trying to change to fresh RBC and avoid the washing, which delays the procedure or are wasted if the patient is not put in ECMO.

    I have another issue How do you store the blood for OR? Do you have coolers ? What is your process to issue /store products for the OR?

    We have a small refrigerator in the OR which the temperature is monitor 24/7 , and the alarmi s tested Quarterly. The blood is issued each morning and stored until each case. I just had an AABB inspection and the assesor feels that it is a high risk for mistransfusion. The transfusion service is not close to the OR and in case of emergency there is not enough time to come and pick up the units. Any ideas?

    Happy Holidays !

    Martha Delgado:cries:

    ECMO Center transfusion protocol

    in All other topics

    Posted

    We are a children hospital with an ECMO Center and I am trying to change our transfusion protocol. I will like to know what are other ECMO centers doing. Does any one wash RBC to start the ECMO circuit? What is the tranfusion protocol specially to start the circuit?

    Thank You,

    Martha

    ABO discrepancy

    in Transfusion Services

    Posted

    How old is the patient? Being a children hospital this very common for us. Multiple transfusion of O RBC to neonates can give you an ABO discrapency. When the patient's are transferred to us they type O (may time we do not see mixfield) after four month we request new sample and we start seeing their real type.`

    Martha

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