Application of Six Sigma/CAP Methodology: Controlling Blood-Product Utilization and Costs/PRACTITIONER APPLICATION

Blood-product components are a limited commodity whose cost is rising. Many patients benefit from their use, but patients who receive transfusions face an unnecessary increased risk for developing infections; fatal, febrile, or allergic reactions; and circulatory overload. To improve patient care, s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of healthcare management 2008-05, Vol.53 (3), p.183
Main Authors: Neri, Robert A, Mason, Cindy E, Demko, Lisa A, Mazer, Sherry
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Best practice
Blood
Blood platelets
Blood products
Hospitals
Laboratories
Performance evaluation
Principles
Process controls
Six Sigma
Stakeholders
Studies
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Summary:Blood-product components are a limited commodity whose cost is rising. Many patients benefit from their use, but patients who receive transfusions face an unnecessary increased risk for developing infections; fatal, febrile, or allergic reactions; and circulatory overload. To improve patient care, safety, and resource stewardship, transfusion practices must be evaluated for appropriateness (Wilson et al. 2002). A multihospital health system undertook a rigorous study of blood-product utilization patterns and management processes to address cost-control problems in the organization. The system leveraged two process improvement tools widely implemented outside of the healthcare industry: (1) Six Sigma methodology to identify blood-utilization drivers and to standardize transfusion practice, and (2) change acceleration process model to drive effective change. The initiative resulted in a decreased rate of inappropriate transfusions of packed red blood cell from 16 percent to less than 5 percent, improved clinician use of a blood-component order form, establishment of internal benchmarks, enhanced laboratory-to-clinician communication, and better blood-product expense control. The project further demonstrated how out-of-industry tools and methodologies can be adopted, adapted, and systematically applied to generate positive change (Black and Revere 2006). [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:1096-9012
1944-7396