Hospital Optimizes Blood Distribution With Handheld Scanners

UMC St Radboud is a 1,000-bed university hospital in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. The hospital employs over 9,000 people and hosts 3,000 students. It includes several departments that handle different branches of medicine. The transfusion department, in particular, plays a central role as it distributes blood and blood products throughout the hospital. Accuracy is key to ensure patient safety.

“In healthcare, the acquisition of flawless information can sometimes mean the difference between life and death. When a patient is administered the wrong medication as a result of inaccurate information, it can lead to serious and even fatal consequences. Getting the right information is also crucial when dealing with the administration of blood and blood products," indicated Jan van der Wijst, supervisor of logistics within UMC St Radboud in Nijmegen. "We use all means possible to assure a safe process without error. We monitor and update the system constantly," says Van der Wijst.

Prior to administering blood or a blood product to a patient, a number of checks are carried out in the UMC laboratory and in the ward. "For example, we make sure the blood group corresponds to that of the patient and that the blood or blood products in the lab are used by the expiration date. We check the patient's blood for antibodies, which may lead to another transfusion product being chosen," explains Van der Wijst. The required blood or blood products are then issued in the name of the patient and the same checks are repeated in the ward.

Download this case study below to read more.