Blood banking as a professional discipline in medicine

A closer orientation of blood banking toward optimal donor and patient care will depend upon an enlargement of the manpower pool of physicians with specific competence in this area. Toward this end, programs must be developed within medical school curricula, and comprehensive postgraduate training programs must be available for those interested in committing themselves fully to this specialty. Continuing education must be made available to part-time blood banking professionals in order that they remain abreast of newer developments. Recognition of their skills can now come about through competence testing and certification programs. Improvements in management of the blood resource may then be expected to occur in parallel with the increase in numbers and quality of the professionals within this unique specialty.