Reducing unnecessary red blood cell transfusion in hospitalized patients

A recent article published in BMJ explores the issue of the overuse of red blood cell (RBC) transfusions in stable non-bleeding patients. The article highlights that overuse puts patients at risk of harm, increases healthcare costs and threatens blood resources. Limited blood supplies for transfusion is a long-standing challenge, now amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. The article provides recommendations to limit overuse of RBC transfusions, such as auditing, educating physicians, changing organizational policies, and using clinical decision support tools. Read the full article here.

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    Blood & Beyond is a multi-stakeholder initiative funded by CSL, involving experts from the fields of haematology, transfusion medicine, anaesthesiology, patient blood management, nursing, patient advocacy, health economics, and hospital management, with support from policymakers committed to driving improvements in this area. The aim of the initiative is to raise awareness of the importance of good blood health and of the impact of anaemia on patients, healthcare systems and society at large, with the overarching goal to help advance policies and practices that improve patient outcomes by supporting patient-centricity in anaemia prevention, diagnosis, and management through patient blood management (PBM) and innovation.

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