Improving platelet supply chains through collaborations between blood centers and transfusion services

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Operations
• Supply Chain Management
• Transfusion Medicine

Background:

• Blood centers and transfusion services face challenges in maintaining adequate platelet inventory.
• Balancing inventory levels to avoid shortages while minimizing waste is crucial.
• A novel inventory management approach was developed through interdepartmental collaboration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze and improve the platelet (PLT) supply chain between a blood center and a hospital transfusion service.
• To identify inefficiencies in PLT collection, rotation, and inventory management.
• To implement changes and evaluate their impact on PLT outdate rates and operational costs.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a supply chain performance analysis of PLT processes.
• Studied the interactions between blood collection, rotation, and inventory management.
• Implemented changes based on analysis recommendations and performed post-implementation evaluation.

Main Results:

• Identified key areas for improvement in PLT collection, rotation, and inventory policy.
• Reduced the overall PLT outdate rate from 19% to 9% within two years.
• Achieved significant cost reductions exceeding $500,000 annually.

Conclusions:

• A multidisciplinary approach to supply chain management enhanced PLT inventory efficiency.
• The implemented process improvements successfully reduced PLT outdate rates.
• Collaboration between transfusion services and supply chain experts yielded substantial cost savings.