On behalf of: Dr Adele Harrison, Dr Jennifer Duncan and Sarah Porter, on behalf of the Choosing Wisely at Island Health Oversight Committee
On July 30, Health Quality BC announced the new Choosing Wisely provincial hub for BC. Island Health has already demonstrated a commitment to Choosing Wisely and has maintained designation as a Using Blood Wisely organization since May 2023.
This recognition by Choosing Wisely Canada acknowledges red blood cell (RBC) transfusion national recommendations for stable patients in acute care through the achievement and maintenance of evidence-based single unit transfusion and hemoglobin threshold targets.
As our acute care inpatient population has increased, red blood cell usage at Island Health has remained stable. Based on per patient prescribing, transfusion practice changes have resulted in savings of 800 RBC units per year since 2023.
The Choosing Wisely Canada Oversight Committee is now using the triple bottom line framework to measure change, which includes not only the patient experience (people) but also the environmental impact (planet), and the financial impact (prosperity).
800 RBC units saved per year through Using Blood Wisely means saving:
- 3,200 nursing and patient hours giving and receiving a transfusion
- At least 1,600 hours technician time preparing blood
- At least $400,000 RBC in procurement costs
- 6,000 kg CO2 equivalent emission reduction = 2,600l by gasoline car
- 80 (1%) potential transfusion reactions; 1 serious transfusion reaction
Thank you to each and everyone of you for all you do every day to choose wisely for patients, for the population and for the planet. Every contribution brings value.
Want to learn more, see the Using Blood Wisely at Island Health website and the Transfusion Medicine page for more information and educational materials.
Site-based data demonstrating monthly transfusion practices is displayed on the Choosing Wisely at Island Health Interactive Report and our data is submitted monthly to Choosing Wisely Canada
We're excited to share that our annual Choosing Wisely at Island Health Symposium will take place on November 21. Mark your calendars to join the conversation about Choosing Wisely Canada and planetary health. More details are coming soon.