Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) has joined a growing list of hospitals across the country that are making efforts to better utilize Canada’s blood supply, recently achieving the ‘Using Blood Wisely’ national designation.
To join the initiative, hospitals must meet or surpass key benchmarks for four consecutive months to demonstrate that they are appropriately using blood products for their patients. KHSC earned its designation earlier this month.
“At all times we need to ensure that we are not giving a patient more blood than they actually need because blood transfusions aren’t completely risk free,” says Dr. Jeannie Callum, Director of Transfusion Medicine. “We must also be sure that we’re using our blood supply wisely because we are struggling with blood donations in Canada. Only four per cent of the population currently donates blood and donations have dropped further during the pandemic.”
Blood is a lifesaving resource for Canadians coast-to-coast, that’s why more than 120 hospitals across the country have signed on to the campaign so far.
“We are incredibly proud of this achievement as it is just another example of the leadership that our staff and physicians demonstrate on a daily basis,” says KHSC Chief of Staff, Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick. “We recently received our ‘Choosing Wisely Canada level 1 hospital designation’ and this ‘Using Blood Wisely’ achievement is a key part of our efforts to become one of a handful of hospitals to achieve the level 2 designation.”
In the past, it was not uncommon for patients to receive multiple blood products if their hemoglobin levels, dropped below 100. But now, research has shown that there is little benefit in giving so much blood at one time.
“This is a more thoughtful, evidence-based approach. We now give the patient the blood transfusion, monitor their hemoglobin levels and see how they’re feeling the next day. We would then only do another transfusion if it’s required,” says Dr. Callum. “We should be saving our blood supply for individuals who really need life-saving transfusions, such as those who have suffered traumatic injuries or those who are experiencing bleeding after surgery.”
The campaign aims to save roughly five per cent of the total blood supply.
“As a health-care system we need to remember that blood is freely given by donors, but there is a cost to the system in giving patients more blood than is required. Each bag costs the health care system around a thousand dollars. This money could be instead spent in other areas of health care to benefit patients in other ways, such as investing in new technology, better diagnostics. This campaign will really lead to better outcomes for patients all across the country.”
To learn more about the ‘Using Blood Wisely’ program, visit: https://usingbloodwisely.ca/
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