Patient Blood Management Certification Now Available

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. — Applications for Patient Blood Management Certification are now being accepted by the Joint Commission. The certification is an evidence-based approach to optimizing care of patients who might need transfusion. It is based on the AABB Standards for a Patient Blood Management Program and can help hospitals realize the maximum benefits of establishing a comprehensive patient blood-management program.

Blood transfusion is the most common procedure performed during hospitalization, but research shows 50{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5} of red-blood-cell transfusions are found to be inappropriate. The voluntary Patient Blood Management Certification encompasses all aspects of patient evaluation and clinical management surrounding the transfusion decision-making process. It can reduce the need for allogenic blood transfusions and reduce healthcare costs, while ensuring that blood components are available for the patients who need them.

“It’s not easy to implement a cross-functional patient blood-management program that is sustainable. The goal of this certification is to help hospitals implement practices to help with several issues, including eliminating unnecessary transfusions and adverse outcomes,” said Mark Pelletier, chief operating officer, Accreditation and Certification Operations, for the Joint Commission. “We are pleased to partner with AABB on this very important initiative to help hospitals better help their patients.”

Organizations interested in learning more about the program should e-mail qualityhospitals@jointcommission.org.