Although blood transfusions are useful in medicine, the danger they pose is frequently underestimated, according to study coauthor Mark J. Ott, MD, a general surgeon, surgical oncologist and chief medical director of Intermountain Healthcare’s central region.
“Blood is a drug and…we don’t teach our students and residents in training how dangerous blood really is,” said Dr. Ott. Transfused packed red blood cells suppress a recipient’s immune system, so it can increase their risk of infection.
To reduce transfusions and streamline protocols across the system, Intermountain implemented a blood ordering and tracking system and an educational program for hospital staff in 2012. Prior to implementing the system, Intermountain facilities transfused almost 50 units of blood per 1,000 patient days. That rate has since declined to roughly 35.5 units as of this summer, a reduction of around 30 percent.
The percentage of patients who received two units of blood instead of one declined as well, from 68 percent of all transfusion orders to 23 percent.
Ultimately, the implementation of the electronic program coincided with a 33 percent decrease in the number of patients who received blood and developed an infection. Intermountain’s overall infection rate also decreased after the program, from a rate of 1.66 to 0.81 per 1,000 patient days.
Coauthors of the study estimate the program helped the system save $2.5 million over a two-year span.
More articles on blood transfusions:
Patient safety tool: NPSF publishes resource for patient blood management
Blood transfusion-related complications more common than reported
Smaller blood transfusions are safe long-term, study shows
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