Implementing structured handoffs to verify operating room blood delivery using a quality academy training program: an...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Patient Safety
• Transfusion Medicine

Background:

• Blood transfusion is a critical medical procedure with inherent risks.
• Errors in the blood transfusion process can have severe consequences for patient safety.
• Effective verification of blood product delivery is essential to mitigate these risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement a structured handoff protocol for blood product delivery to the operating room (OR).
• To enhance the verification process during blood transfusions.
• To improve patient safety by reducing errors in blood product delivery.

Main Methods:

• A multidisciplinary team utilized the quality academy framework and Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles for implementation.
• A structured handoff process for blood delivery to the OR was introduced.
• Interrupted time-series analysis was employed to evaluate the impact on verified deliveries and delivery duration.

Main Results:

• The implementation led to a significant increase in the proportion of verified blood deliveries to the OR.
• No significant change was observed in the secondary outcome of verified deliveries without a handoff.
• A notable reduction in the mean delivery duration was observed post-intervention.

Conclusions:

• The quality academy framework effectively supported the implementation of a structured handoff process.
• The structured handoff significantly improved the verification of blood deliveries to the OR.
• This initiative demonstrates a successful strategy for enhancing patient safety in transfusion medicine.