Becker's Hospital Review

69 Executive Briefing: Patient Blood Management patients at risk for serious transfusion-related complications, such as potentially fatal transfusion reactions, infection, kidney failure and lung dysfunction. In addition to the obvious negative health impacts on patients, such complications also lead to extended lengths of stay and utilization of additional hospital resources, both of which increase costs. But even without complications, transfusions are costly. Accord- ing to a landmark study published in 2010, the average cost of transfusing one unit of red blood cells is $1,200. So if a PBM program can reduce transfusions by 20 to 30 percent, a hospital can expect significant savings. For example, a 500-bed hospital transfusing 4,000 units of red blood cells per year would save approximately $960,000 annually by reducing transfusions by 25 percent with a PBM program. Role of the C-suite Of course, hospitals should expect a ramp-up period for their PBM program before touting double-digit transfusion reduction rates. And creating a successful program can take time in terms of secur- ing participation and buy-in from all appropriate stakeholder groups. Because PBM requires a multidisciplinary approach, hospitals need active involvement from physicians (anesthesiologists, sur- geons, etc.), nurses and technicians, as well as the hospital's C- suite and board of directors. In fact, earning C-suite buy-in may be the most critical component of a PBM program's success. Sup- port from top hospital leadership is necessary to provide legiti- macy and importance to the initiative and provide the investment of resources required to get the program up and running. With the proper buy-in and participation across service lines and leadership, hospitals can ensure the right people and methodolo- gies are in place to achieve success. And in fact, most hospitals realize a return on their investment within the first year of launch- ing a PBM program. Conclusion Blood transfusion is a common hospital therapy that comes with a set of risks and costs that often can be avoided through proper Patient Blood Management. By adopting strategies to optimize patients prior to surgery, conserve blood and minimize blood loss, hospitals can achieve improved patient outcomes while reducing costs. n TeamHealth is one of the largest providers of outsourced physician staffing solutions for hospitals in the United States. Through its 19 regional locations and multiple service lines, TeamHealth's more than 9,800 affiliated healthcare professionals provide emergency medicine, hospital medicine, anesthesia, urgent care, and pediatric staffing and management services to more than 860 civilian and military hospitals, clinics, and physician groups in 46 states. A 500-bed hospital transfusing 4,000 units of red blood cells per year would save approximately $960,000 annually by reducing transfusions by 25 percent with a PBM program. $1,200 the average cost of transfusing one unit of red blood cells

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