The Family of Sciences – Where and How to Position Transfusion Medicine? | Chapter 4 | Medical Research and Its Applications Vol. 7

Transfusion medicine has come a long way, largely in the shadow of other fields of science and medical practice, virtually a Cinderella position.

Its comprehensiveness (vein-to-vein) provides a unique scenery and environment to bridge with the many supportive scientific disciplines. Most of these are beta or exact sciences, but over the past decades increasingly ‘soft sciences’ like sociology and environmental psychology, and the group of applied exact sciences (gamma sciences) have been discovered like pharmaco-economy and bridged enriching the field and profession. Today there is a growing interest in the application of ICT and artificial intelligence.

 

Author (s) Details

Cees Th. Smit Sibinga
International Development of Transfusion Medicine, University of Groningen, NL IQM Consulting for International Development of Quality Management in Transfusion Medicine, Zuidhorn, Netherlands.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/mria/v7/797

Quality Culture in Transfusion Medicine | Chapter 3 | New Visions in Medicine and Medical Science Vol. 1

The field of Transfusion Medicine as a bridging science, integrally deals with that part of the health care system that undertakes the appropriate provision and use of human blood resources, whether whole blood, plasma, or cellular components. The development of a safe blood supply and transfusion brings along the introduction of managing quality as a culture. This is implemented through the introduction of a quality system (QS) and a related quality management system (QMS). Quality system management (QSM) in transfusion medicine is about providing and assuring vein-to-vein safe and effective hemotherapy. In many situations in the world the idea is that when instructions are written (SOPs) a quality system is in place; one just has to follow the instructions and ‘that is it, we’re done’!

However, quality does not only partly depend on following instructions at the operational level. What is generally not understood is the importance of designing and implementing quality system management as an institutional culture, based on five key elements 1) organization and (infra)structure; 2) standards (technical and quality); 3) documentation to allow traceability and evidence; 4) education through continued teaching and training; 5) assessment through continued monitoring and evaluation. There are a number of quality management systems available, which can be applied to procurement and clinical use of blood. Some are “process”- and “operations-oriented” while others deal more with the management aspects, securing a quality environment and culture, necessary for consistency and reliability of the operational processes. The EU EFQM and Canadian ISQua systems are based on concepts of excellence.

To achieve an optimal understanding of the values of vein-to-vein quality in transfusion medicine, a culture has to be developed through ownership, stewardship, and commitment to and implementation of the principles of fitness for purpose, the supplier-producer-customer continuum, and customer-orientation and satisfaction. Commitment from top management is the driving force for a culture of quality. Leaders need to be clearly visible, engaged and unwavering in their support for quality improvement.

 

Author(s) Details:

Cees Th. Smit Sibinga,
IQM Consulting and University of Groningen, Netherlands.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/NVMMS-V1/article/view/13650

Recommended Legislative Framework for a National Blood Policy and Blood System | Chapter 2 | New Visions in Medicine and Medical Science Vol. 1

Blood transfusion contributes to saving millions of lives every year, improves Life expectancy and the quality of life of patients suffering from life-threatening conditions, and supports complex medical and surgical procedures.

To meet the needs of all patients every country should put in place policies, a legislative framework, systems and structures to ensure the safety, quality, accessibility and timely availability of blood and blood products. However, there are numerous situations, particularly in the less developed world, where these prerequisites have barely been implemented.

A literature search (PubMed, ResearchGate, Google Scholar) was done on matching combinations of legislation, regulation, and legislation framework, with blood and blood transfusion, which resulted in almost exclusively references with respect to national and international legislation in advanced countries.

Ministries of Health (MoH) should provide effective leadership and governance in developing a healthcare-integrated national blood system.

To ensure an adequate supply of blood and blood products and safe clinical transfusion practice essential functions of a national blood system should include policy formulation, a legislative framework spelling out the principles and boundaries; standard setting; strategic and operational planning; provision of resources and national coordination and management.

The structure of the national blood system will depend on the organization and level of development of the healthcare system. However, all critical activities within a national blood system should be coordinated nationally to promote: uniform standards; economies-of-scale; consistency in the quality and safety of blood and blood products and best transfusion practices. Key are: Formulation and oversight of the implementation of the national blood policy and strategic plan; defining the roles, responsibilities and accountability of institutions and; setting national standards for blood and blood products, services; processes and systems; defining requirements for the registration, licensing and operation.

Author(s) Details:

Cees Th. Smit Sibinga,
IQM Consulting and University of Groningen, Netherlands.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/NVMMS-V1/article/view/13649