SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Our Journey to Top Decile Performance: A Systematic Patient Blood Management Program Transforms Hospital Medicine Transfusion Practice at Sentara Healthcare

Our Journey to Top Decile Performance: A Systematic Patient Blood Management Program Transforms Hospital Medicine Transfusion Practice at Sentara Healthcare

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Sentara Healthcare implemented a system-wide Patient Blood Management (PBM) program in 2019 to reduce avoidable transfusions by 24% over three years. Because hospital medicine physicians manage about 75% of inpatient care, they were identified as a key group for influencing transfusion practices and improving outcomes.<br /><br />The PBM program included a multidisciplinary steering committee, updated order sets aligned with evidence-based guidelines, and provider-level performance feedback with education focused on lowering hemoglobin thresholds and increasing single-unit transfusions (SUT). Hospital medicine leaders also made Choosing Wisely transfusion recommendations an annual quality goal, and part of the quality bonus was tied to understanding and practicing these standards.<br /><br />Hospital medicine was found to be the system’s highest transfusing specialty, so targeted efforts were directed at this group. The results were strong: within 12 months, the hospital medicine team exceeded the system’s year-one goals and reached performance above the 90th percentile compared with national benchmarks. By Q3 2021, SUT rates had increased by 42%, hemoglobin-7 transfusions had increased by 62%, RBC units transfused had decreased by 30%, and variation in provider practice had been reduced.<br /><br />Overall, the initiative showed that a structured, evidence-based PBM program can significantly improve transfusion practice, reduce unnecessary blood use, and support top-decile performance in hospital medicine.

Asset Subtitle

Colin Findlay

Meta Tag

Author List Colin Findlay, Lisa Manganaro, Michael Hooper, Sheryl Reed

Category Research

Concept Patient Blood Management

Concept Transfusion Practice

Concept Transfusion Stewardship

Concept Hemoglobin Threshold

Concept One-Unit Transfusion

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Sentara Healthcare

Presenting Author Colin Findlay

Track Quality Improvement

Keywords

Patient Blood Management

PBM program

Sentara Healthcare

hospital medicine

transfusion practices

single-unit transfusions

Choosing Wisely

evidence-based guidelines

hemoglobin thresholds

RBC units transfused

Patient Blood Management

Transfusion Practice

Transfusion Stewardship

Hemoglobin Threshold

One-Unit Transfusion