The Problem:


Transfusion Therapy is Hazardous and Expensive, Yet Blood Utilization is Suboptimal!
  • Blood acquisition costs have more than doubled in the past few years and will continue to rise as the blood supply struggles to meet the increasing demand.
  • Each transfusion causes a stepwise increase in serious complications including postoperative infection rates, ventilator-acquired pneumonia, central line sepsis, ICU and hospital length of stay, as well as mortality rates.
  • Transfusion costs exceed blood acquisition costs by four times or greater when accounting for labor, supplies, administration and adverse events.
  • Most physicians who order blood products lack formal training in transfusion therapy, and many are unaware of current transfusion guidelines.
  • Oversight of blood utilization is lacking as witnessed by wide variation in transfusion practices between institutions and among physicians at the same institution.
  • From a medical-legal standpoint, the financial liability of improper informed consent, inappropriate transfusions and transfusion errors can can be substantial.

Results of Implementing a Blood Management Program

Actual Business Case
Blood Management Program Cost Savings
750 Bed Community Hospital
Program
Annual
Savings
Program
Five Year
Savings
Reduction in RBC transfusions
3500 units
17,500 units
Blood acquisition cost savings*
$735,000
$6,375,000
Transfusion cost savings
$2,065,000
$10,325,000
Reduction in adverse events
$4,200,000
$21,000,000
Total hospital cost savings**
$7,000,000
$35,000,000
*RBC acquisition cost $210/ unit **Platelet cost savings adds $1.4M annual/ $7M over five years


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