April 2023

Before we begin

We invite you to submit any question you would like to see addressed for 18th Annual Transfusion Medicine Web Conference here.

In This Issue

ORBCoN’s eLearning Resources- Helping to Meet Accreditation Requirements
Bloody Easy Lite Learning Modules 1 & 2
Spring 2023 The 18th Annual Transfusion Medicine Education Symposium
Newsboard
- MHP Implementation Survey
Upcoming Events
- CBS/ORBCoN Technical Dry Workshop
- Register: 18th Annual Transfusion Medicine Webconference
- UofT TM Rounds

ORBCoN’s eLearning Resources- Helping to Meet Accreditation Requirements

Troy Thompson, ORBCoN Program Manager

Accreditation standards requires all facilities to have a formal competency assessment program for transfusion services that includes all “team” members, including prescribing physicians.

ORBCoN’s Learning Management System (LMS) was launched in September 2021 through collaboration with Surge Learning Inc. to help facilities meet the accreditation requirements for transfusion medicine. The ORBCoN LMS houses the Bloody Easy/ORBCoN eLearning resources that are available to facilities for their education and competency requirements. The Bloody Easy Lite (geared towards physicians), Bloody Easy Blood Administration (geared towards nursing) and the newly revised ORBCoN Technologist Assessment (geared towards Technologists) eLearning courses are all available on the LMS platform.

The LMS enables users to electronically document completion of any of our eLearning courses and has additional features including:

A self-registration process for all users
The ability to select multiple affiliations for both site administrators and registered users
The ability to schedule completion dates for the eLearning courses based upon user roles
Automated messaging for completion of courses based upon renewal duration (annually, biannually, etc.)
Comprehensive reports for site administrators

Additionally, the Bloody Easy Lite and Bloody Easy Blood Administration eLearning courses are available for a facilities’ own internal LMS by uploading the SCORM compliant files. The SCORM files are available in versions 1.2 and 2004. **please note, those facilities that already use Surge Learning as their own internal LMS, will have the courses already available on this platform**

Many Ontario hospitals and educational facilities have registered to use the ORBCoN LMS or use the courses on their own LMS for their education and competency requirements.

If you have any questions or want to use the ORBCoN LMS or the SCORM compliant files for your educational needs, please contact troy.thompson@sunnybrook.ca

Bloody Easy Lite Learning Modules 1 & 2

Barbara Dawson, Assistant, Chief of Staff & Medical Staff Office, PSFDH
On behalf of the Perth & Smiths Falls District Hospital

Bloody Easy Lite consists of two educational modules offered through the Ontario Regional Blood Coordinating Network (ORBCoN) using Surge Learning Systems, for physicians and healthcare professionals who prescribe blood and blood components or blood products. “As per Accreditation Canada standard 4.3, each hospital must have a formal program to maintain team members’ competence that includes evaluating their theoretical and practical knowledge on transfusion services.”

In January 2022, following discussions at the Medical Quality Assurance Committee, and further by the Medical Advisory Committee, it was decided to incorporate this as a mandatory requirement into the reappointment process. It is now mandatory that all professional staff seeking reappointment complete Bloody Easy Lite Modules 1 and 2 every two years.

At the Perth & Smiths Falls District Hospital (PSFDH), it is recognized that physician time is in demand which can impact completion and compliance so with careful planning, a supporting timeline was created that begins with awareness of the mandatory requirement through to completion.

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If the mandatory education has not been completed by the time of reappointment, a physician’s reappointment application will not be renewed. Work on this process begins as early as five to six months in advance of the reappointment process.

To support the process, PSFDH provides the physicians with all of the necessary tools and supports to complete the online education and training such as basic “how to” instructions and e-Learning Guide. Reminders about upcoming deadlines for completion and submitting reappointment applications are provided throughout this period.

At PSFDH, we have found that persistence and patience in follow-up efforts allow for amazing success in achieving 100% compliance. PSFDH has an engaged physician group who appreciates the necessity to complete the education to not only safeguard the physicians and the patients under their care, but to support the accreditation process for the hospital organization.

Dr. Tom Morell, Chief of Staff, PSFDH, acknowledges the work of the Medical Staff Office and the physician group in accomplishing the achievement of 100% compliance. “It did not happen overnight. The team considered the critical need to complete the education. We found that with the proper engagement, all physicians recognized that the overall quality and safe care provided to our patients is everyone’s responsibility.”

Spring 2023

The 18th Annual Transfusion Medicine Education Symposium

Amanda Nowry, Canadian Blood Services
Specialist – Hospital Liaison, Medical Laboratory & Stem Cell Services

Join us for the 18th Annual Transfusion Medicine Education Symposium, where we’ll delve into the critical role of blood products beyond red blood cells. Titled “Bloody Well Prepared: Optimizing the Safety of Transfusion for Hemostasis,” the symposium will be presented as a half-day webinar on Thursday, April 27th, 2023.

Hosted by Canadian Blood Services and the Ontario Regional Blood Coordinating Network (ORBCoN), the symposium is designed to enhance the transfusion skills of healthcare professionals working in community hospitals, with a focus on improving patient outcomes. We invite physicians, nurses, technologists, residents, trainees and students involved in the ordering, issuing or transfusing of blood and blood products to attend.

“While a lot of attention in transfusion medicine is rightly paid to red blood cells (typing, antibody screening, crossmatching), for this year’s symposium we wanted to spotlight the ‘supporting cast’ of blood products: fibrinogen replacement, platelet concentrates, and plasma. These products play an important role in effectively managing bleeding (or preventing it from developing in the first place). Experts will discuss modern use of these products and provide updates about an evolution underway at Canadian Blood Services. Our goal is to improve familiarity with the clinical use of these products and what efforts are being made to improve their safety” says Dr. Johnathan Mack, Canadian Blood Services Medical Officer and co-chair of the symposium organizing committee.

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The symposium will feature presentations from Dr. Michelle Zeller of McMaster University on pathogen-reduced platelets, Dr. Andrew Petrosoniak of St. Michael’s Hospital on underutilized fibrinogen replacement, and Dr. Kathryn Webert of Canadian Blood Services on Solvent Detergent (S/D) plasma.

Registration for this virtual event is free and available through ORBCoN’s Upcoming Events Calendar. The symposium is accredited for Continuing Medical Education (CME) by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

If you have any questions, please contact Amanda Nowry at amanda.nowry@blood.ca or Tracy Cameron at tcameron@ohri.ca

Featured Resource

New! Patient Pamphlet Video

We are thrilled to announce the release of our new video, which complements our “Blood Transfusion: Information for Patients” document. Our goal with these resources is to provide patients with basic information about transfusions of blood components and products.This document accompanied by a discussion with their healthcare provider, can help patients make an informed decision regarding their treatment options. The video and document are available in both English and French on our website.
We encourage you to take a look and share your feedback with us!

Watch

Newsboard

Implementation Survey

In 2018, ORBCoN asked that all Ontario hospitals with a transfusion service complete a survey to assess practice and policies when managing a massive hemorrhage situation. We invite you to review the results published in Injury here.

In the coming weeks, we will again be asking Ontario hospitals to complete a repeat survey to assess the implementation status of Ontario’s recommendations for Massive Hemorrhage Protocol (MHP), identify any barriers to implementation, determine possible gaps and assess any improvement in practice.

In 2018 we had 100% response rate to the baseline survey! Let’s keep the momentum going Ontario, great work is being done with your help to ensure massively hemorrhaging patients receive timely and standardized care to achieve the best possible outcomes. We ask for your cooperation in the completion of this second survey.

ORBCoN is holding a Fall symposium in Toronto and results of this provincial survey will be presented at this forum.