Automation in Transfusion Services: The Future is Now
Program Code: 419-QE
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
2:00 PM to 5:30 PM (ET)

SPEAKERS
Susan South, MAOM, MT(ASCP)SBB, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics
Patrick O`Sullivan, MS, MT(ASCP)SBB, Florida Hospital
Cheryl Richards, MT(ASCP)SBB, TriCore Reference Laboratories
Michael L. Scott, BS, MT(ASCP), St. Francis Health Center
Lawrence Rodriguez, BS, MT(ASCP), St Joseph Hospital and Medical Center

DESCRIPTION
This session will review the importance of process understanding and change-readiness before implementing automated pretransfusion services solutions. There will be four speakers who will address the reasons for adopting automated testing platforms in their transfusion services and some of the challenges and successes they encountered. Two of the speakers are users of Immucor`s automation and two are users of Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics` automation. All speakers will share their rationale for selecting their automation and some of the challenges and results of the implementations.

OBJECTIVES

• Discuss the importance of process understanding before selecting automation
• List three major reasons for purchasing automation for pretransfusion testing
• Describe at least three choices for automation platforms and instrumentation for pretransfusion testing
• Identify three challenges to implementing new technology platforms and/or instrumentation into the transfusion services

AUDIENCE
Physicians, Technologists, Managers/Supervisors

PROGRAM LEVEL
Intermediate