Blood Use Case Studies

Columbia Healthcare Analytics has studied dozens of community hospitals, and some academic centers, with similar findings. Approximately 45 percent of transfusion patients can be managed without any blood components, and only 8 percent are not over-transfused. Unnecessary blood use stems from the use of laboratory transfusion guidelines, such as hemoglobin <7 g/dL, which are not measures of good blood management. These laboratory guidelines are merely permissive levels for transfusion, below which no investigation will be conducted. Monitoring guidelines does not address one or more blood management steps that should have been taken, but were not.

Marin General Hospital Case Study

This case study shows the dramatic improvement that achieved with ERaaSTM technology reducing blood use 30 percent within on quarter, and reducing overall blood use by 50 percent, between 2012 and 2014. Newer ERaaSTM enhancements are designed to create even greater improvement. 

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Columbia Healthcare Analytics developed a 4-step physician adoption approach to create immediate improvement, and generate an almost instantaneous return on investment. 

Step 1: Measure 10-year historical blood use using comprehensive data, not blood bank data.

Step 2: Measure physicians’ blood management skills, and mentor physicians.

Step 3: Monitor blood use using comprehensive ERaaSTM technology, which evaluates all clinical data.

Step 4: Provide individual gamified OPPE reports by physician, by department, by hospital, and by system.

Hospitals can expect 10 to 30 percent improvement within 90-days, with an initial cost equivalent to as little as 100 RBC units.