Humans cannot perform tasks correctly each time. Unaided, 98 percent correct performance is excellent. Nevertheless, when the consequences of error are severe, multiple system redesign steps may be needed to reduce the rate to an acceptable level. Achieving zero error may be impossible. Transfusion medicine provides a good example of the roadblocks to perfection.
Improve patient outcomes, conserve health care resources and reduce unnecessary health care cost. These are key goals of every hospital administrator. “Patient blood management” is a highly effective strategy to achieve these goals. Appropriate patient blood management is a responsibility that requires strong administrative leadership and commitment.
In an era of bloodless medicine and bloodless surgery, hospitals are using increasing amounts of blood, or certainly not using less blood. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) tracks an ever growing list of clinical metrics from open heart surgery patients. The STS data set reveals that patients who undergo relatively bloodless open heart procedures have better outcomes and lower mortality rates.
