In May 2013, an academic medical center implemented a clinical practice guideline modeled after the 2012 AABB recommendations for RBC use.
American Journal of Managed Care published the study.
Here are six notes:
1. The researchers found blood product use reduced following the AABB guideline.
2. Blood product dropped more significantly after implementing the local interventions.
3. The proportion of patients receiving a transfusion fell from 12.6 percent before implementing the AABB guideline to 8.8 percent after the intervention.
4. Total blood use with a hemoglobin level above 8 g/dL dropped from 20.2 percent to 12.4 percent.
5. RBC costs per discharged decreased from $61.60 to $39.70.
6. Researchers concluded “passive adoption of restrictive transfusion guidelines was shown to reduce blood product use on general medicine floors.” However, a local, targeted intervention to enhance patient safety proved to have a greater effect.
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