Patient Blood Management (PBM) initiatives are gaining global traction, with many European countries demonstrating positive patient, clinician, and institutional impact. Beyond the ever-increasing peer-reviewed studies, presentations, and published evidence, an extraordinary milestone was achieved when the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a policy brief1 in 2022, reinforcing the potential for PBM to improve the lives of hundreds of millions of patients around the world.
For the past four decades, the medical community involved with blood products (i.e., collection, processing, to transfusing) has focused on blood safety rather than improving transfusion decisions at the point of care. Moving forward, there is a greater focus among the clinicians performing transfusion, on determining who should receive a transfusion at the most critical moment and who may achieve the same quality outcome without needing blood products. Additionally, the WHO strongly recommended that clinical institutions create a sense of urgency around accessing and ensuring safe blood therapies, particularly for surgical patients, pregnant women, neonates, children, the elderly, and other at-risk populations.
Pause Before Ordering Blood Products
Two years later, the impact of the WHO policy brief, coupled with an increase in the awareness of PBM, has set a new standard in patient care. Instead of empirically ordering blood products, there is now a realization among clinicians responsible for transfusion, that this previous protocol might not be in the patient’s best interest. Ultimately, the goal is to pause and consider what the best path for the patient may be. It’s essential that this decision is considered on an individualized basis, as patient outcomes and blood products are far too valuable.
PBM initiatives allow patients to thrive in their care experience with the potential for a faster recovery and discharge2. Additionally, healthcare providers should aim to ensure blood products are allocated to those who truly need them.
The Economics Are Proven
With the need to always balance the best possible care with the reality of the economics, it is reassuring that in the case of PBM, the best care is the most cost-effective care2. With the patient always front and center, PBM programs are expanding and are now building momentum toward new and improved best practices.
The WHO's initiative to develop complete PBM Implementation Guidelines will serve as a framework for healthcare leaders. With the full guidelines expected to be released in the last quarter of 2024, there will continue to be increased focus and attention on preserving valuable blood products for the patients who need them the most.
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