Examples of Quality Practices on an International Level
Program Code: 318-QE
Monday, October 25, 2004
2:00 PM to 3:30 PM (ET)

SPEAKERS
Julie DiTomasso, MT, ART, Hamilton Regional Laboratory Medicine Program
Peter Garwood, MSc, MBA, FIBMS, National Blood Service
Amadeo Saez-Alquezar, MD

DESCRIPTION
This short topic will provide examples of quality practices from different parts of the world. In the area of quality, we all strive globally to reach the safest level of transfusion for our patients. In attempting to reach this goal, the faculty will present specific processes that they have implemented in their country with the hope that the sharing of this information may assist others in various parts of the world. Systems will be described that assist with ensuring transfusion safety in the hospital, proficiency testing of personnel using panels and minimizing wastage of blood products in a national blood service.

OBJECTIVES

• Describe the role of the transfusion safety officer and some of the challenges and triumphs experienced
• Highlight some of the projects that have been undertaken and address some of the issues that have been identified
• Describe the system used in Latin America to evaluate the proficiency of personnel through the use of panels
• Explain the management, technical and documentation aspects of the process
• Identify a process of continuous improvement to significantly reduce wastage rates and demostrate that communication of closely defined data sets to empowered senior staff, accompained by meaningful reports and oversight, can lead to significant improvements

AUDIENCE
Physicians, Technologists, Nurses, Managers/Supervisors

PROGRAM LEVEL
Intermediate