Significant reduction in red blood cell transfusions in a general hospital after successful implementation of a restrictive transfusion policy supported by prospective computerized order auditing.

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Significant reduction in red blood cell transfusions in a general hospital after successful implementation of a restrictive transfusion policy supported by prospective computerized order auditing.

Transfusion. 2014 Oct;54(10 Pt 2):2640-5

Authors: Yerrabothala S, Desrosiers KP, Szczepiorkowski ZM, Dunbar NM

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Our hospital transfusion policy was recently revised to recommend single-unit red blood cell transfusion (RBC TXN) for nonbleeding inpatients when the hemoglobin (Hb) level is not more than 7 g/dL. Our computerized provider order entry system was reconfigured to provide real-time decision support using prospective computerized order auditing based on the most recent Hb level and to remove the single-click ordering option for 2-unit RBC TXNs to enhance compliance. This study was undertaken to assess the impact of these changes on hospital transfusion practice.
STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This study analyzed the total number of transfusion events, proportion of single and 2-unit transfusions and the Hb transfusion trigger in the preimplementation period (October 2011-March 2012) compared to the postimplementation period (October 2012-March 2013).
RESULTS: In the postimplementation period the total number of RBC units transfused/1000 patient-days decreased from 60.8 to 44.2 (p < 0.0001). The proportion of 2-unit TXNs decreased from 47% to 15% (p < 0.0001). We also observed significant decreases in pretransfusion Hb triggers.
CONCLUSION: Implementation of restrictive transfusion policy supported by prospective computerized order auditing has resulted in significantly decreased RBC utilization at our institution.

PMID: 24673396 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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