Quality indicators in Transfusion Medicine: the building blocks
Authors: Anyaegbu C. C. 
Published: May 2011

Background  Over the past two decades the quest for safe blood supply has led to tremendous growth in the content and scope of the science and practice of Transfusion Medicine (TM). The desire by the various stakeholders in the blood establishment for zero‐risk blood transfusion has not only stretched the level of quality expected of the Transfusion Medicine Service to apical height, but has also resulted in the demand by these stakeholders for concrete proofs that expected degrees of quality have been met or preferably exceeded. Quality indicators (QIs) are a Quality Management System (QMS) tool that are instituted in an organization with intent on not just providing this much needed proof of the level of quality performance tenable in the organization, but they are also intent on utilizing the information gained to seek improving the quality of performance in the organization. In the last decade, huge efforts have been exerted by government and non‐government hospital‐based blood banks, national and international organizations to collate, select, establish and analyze quality QIs for several dimensions of healthcare quality. Notable contributions have been made by such eminent bodies as the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the College of American Pathologists (CAP). Unfortunately these efforts have only sparsely addressed quality indicators for TM. A year ago, the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) instituted its Working Party on Quality Management (WPQM). Quality indicators for TM are of priority to the WPQM which presumably is intent on redressing this imbalance and providing robust and valid quality indicators to monitor quality performances in key processes and outcomes in TM practice, globally.

Objective  This paper therefore highlights some basic essentials for successful monitoring of quality of transfusion medicine service through appropriate selection and implementation of quality indicator projects. It is hoped the information shared through this medium might be of value to Transfusion Medicine practitioners as well as to the ISBT WPQM as they thinker with quality indicators for Transfusion Medicine.

Material and Method  Considerable review of published literature in the form of journal articles, books and online publications on quality management and quality indicators in Healthcare/Transfusion Medicine was performed with the view to extract essentials elements that could be considered building blocks for the selection, implementation, analysis and utilization of quality indicators in Transfusion Medicine.

Result  Elements deemed as essential building blocks that were appraised included, but were not limited to: understanding Transfusion Medicine terrain; concept of quality and quality indicators selection criteria; choice of improvement model, data analysis and manner of communication of findings as well as the role of effective education and leadership.

Conclusion  Quality indicators are indispensible tools which various stakeholders in the Blood Transfusion establishment now demand to adjudge and improve on quality performance. Practitioners as well as policy makers in Transfusion Medicine need to ensure that the quality indicators they institute are appropriately selected and analyzed to be effective and efficient monitors of quality. Knowledge of basic building blocks discussed here is therefore a fundamental prerequisite.