
10-10-2007, 11:06 AM
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Transfusion Therapy is Hazardous and Expensive, Yet Blood Utilization is Suboptimal!
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.
__________________
Mr. Jan B. Wade
Blood Management Consultant
Enhance Outcomes - Control Cost
For Information Call - 360 296-1807
Email
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