[Simplifying the blood bank?]

An interesting topic thank you.

 

I had the daunting task of managing a hospital blood bank some 20+ years back. The entire team started with ZERO experience .

Step 1 - Training - Make sure the staff know what to do and why. Whenever possible demonstrate the consequence of an action. Remind that there is a person within the test tube.

 

Step 2 - I compiled a flow-chart headed "Do it correctly the first time". The process started with the Doctor's Requisition and sample from the patient, leading into grouping patient, selecting  donor blood, performing the compatibility test, issue of compatible blood and finally the paper work. This chart was located where it was easily accessible to both "lab-rats" (as they called themselves) and hospital staff. This chart  proved a solution to preventing and avoiding short-cuts particularly during the inevitable "emergency" cases. Tasks such as reagent QC controls and inventory management were allocated to low work load shifts.

 

Step 3 - Support - the staff knew that there was always someone available at any time and that they would receive the appropriate level of support.

 

An interesting challenge still exists for managers  who today have the opportunity to use supporting technology such as remote internet access and mobile phones.

[SOP Manual Organization]

Flow charts are good firstly when drafting an SOP to identify all the critical steps in a procedure which then facilitates doing the text. The flow chart is then incorporated as the last page foreasyquick reference with all the detail to be found in the text.

[Stippers/Crimpers]

You can try the JMS product. Some users do not like the round clips compared to the Fenwal rectangular clip.

[ALBA Blood Bank Reagents]

Good range of anti-sera in terms of quality. All customers were satisfied. Recent price increase has lost 4 major tenders for us.

[AIM(Appropriate Inventory Management)]

I have retired from BTS however you may wish to contact Beatrice.Nijeboer@sanbs.org.za

If she can not help you I am sure that she will be able to re-direct you.

[Opinions please on Blood Bank refrigerator/freezer manufacturers]

Hello. We currently have an array of Helmer products throughout our lab, refrigerators, freezers, cell washer, plasma thawing unit, platelet incubator. I am very happy with each of these pieces of equipment. I will be looking for a new plasma freezer in the near future and our new bio-med guy is dead against getting another Helmer product. He wants only Follett. I of course would buy another Helmer due to the reputation we have seen (and besides, then they would all match! ) Any feedback comparing the two would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!!!

I have experience of Helmer but not the other brand across Southern Africa. Never had any negative feedback. So that tells you something.

[Labeling Errors]

The contributing factor to the death of a patient with chronic renal failure and on dialysis was a specimen that was incorrectly labeled (not labelled immediately at "machine" side) and the Blood Requisition form incorrectly completed (No previous transfusions ticked off)

Conclusion: Zero tollerance. Do it right the first time.

In cases where a second sample could not be obtained, my instruction was to crossmatch and issue group O