KAPMT

We only have a couple of what we refer to as contingent employees. One of them is pretty much scheduled as a part timer and the other one is contacted to fill the holes. Are contingent employees do not have to work any holidays or weekends. I think the official hospital policy is they must work at least once every 6 months. If they are never available when we need them we just stop contacting them and the 6 month limit gets reached.

As long as the original specimen is still valid we add units to the original sample order and cancel the new order with a comment that testing was added to previous specimen. We also ABO retype the original specimen and this testing is added to the original order as well.

We also do the #2 scenario.

We are obviously way out of touch. We do apply stickers that ABO/Rh has been confirmed. Plus we write the date and tech initials on the stickers.

Welcome! I am also new and I have been amazed at the wealth of knowledge available here.

Our lab is also staffed by techs who have been around since before computers. It was difficult for many of them to "give up" writing down everything. I do not know of any standard that requires paper documentation of patient testing.

We do not repeat antigen typing that is performed by our reference lab (ARC). We enter the antigen typing results performed by ARC into our LIS with a notation that the testing was performed by them. Being a smallish community hospital sometimes we do not even have the antisera that would enable us to repeat the testing.

We would enter an antibody identified at another facility into the patient's history even if it was not currently reacting. We have a code that expands to previously identified and we add the antibody after that. I am wondering how many issue cards or letters to patients when antibodies are identified. We are not currently doing this but I have looked through older BB records and found copies of letters we used to provide. I think the decision to discontinue the practice came about when we began using computers and the information was then stored for each patient. This is fine for patients that only are treated in our system but of course does not address the situation when patients are treated and transfused elsewhere.

Our general hospital policy is once per admission. However a Joint Commission inspection revealed transfusions that occurred without a consent in the patient's chart. The solution adopted was to require a copy of the consent be brought to the Blood Bank when units are signed out. We actually keep a binder with these copies. It is not really our responsibility (as others have noted) but in the spirit of teamwork and doing what is best for the patient, this is what was agreed upon.

Our procedure is similar to that noted by efg21. We will not perform a transfusion reaction workup until the physician has signed the form after being alerted by the nurse. Once we have the signed form with the required information we will procede with our transfusion reaction workup. If further blood products are requested before the workup is complete we are required to obtain the okay from a pathologist,

I agree with you Pavel that the staff issues are difficult. Our lab is fortunate to have many experienced techs but those personalities can sometimes be challenging. I am enjoying being able to learn more about regulatory issues and thank you for your advice.

Hello, Just wanted to introduce myself to this very knowledgeable group. I am a Med Tech with my current title being Lead Technical Specialist. I have been a Tech for many years, but the Tech Spec thing only since May. I am especially interested in the Blood Bank section as that is an area I feel our Lab could use some additional expertise. Thanks to all for so freely sharing your knowledge and experience.