A cross-sectional pilot study of blood utilization in 27 hospitals in Northern California

Objectives: To gather benchmarking data on blood utilization so as to inform blood management strategies at regional hospitals.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional pilot study of 40 regional hospitals in Northern California using a paper-based survey designed to capture blood component utilization and transfusion management practices. The data were analyzed based on size and complexity of the respondent hospitals.

Results: Twenty-seven (68%) of 40 hospitals responded, ranging in size from 23- to 600-bed facilities. Results showed a wide range of transfusions for each component. All hospitals reported some level of blood utilization oversight in place. Overall, 88.5% had a computerized laboratory information system, of which 17% performed an electronic cross-match. Transfusion triggers for RBCs, platelets, plasma, and cryoprecipitate were in use in 61.5%, 65.4%, 57.7%, and 46.2% of hospitals, respectively.

Conclusions: There is awareness of the need for transfusion oversight. However, the findings show a wide spectrum of transfusion practice, and high-yield measures, such as electronic cross-match and transfusion triggers, have not been uniformly implemented. The results indicate that there is a role for blood centers to assist client hospitals to maximize their efficiency and reduce blood utilization.