May 2023

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In This Issue

The Specialist in Transfusion Science Program
Assisting hospitals with optimal inventory management
Recommended Reads
- First ‘Blood on Board’ program for Northern Ontario to launch in spring
Newsboard
- Save the Date: ORBCoN Fall Symposium
- Register: CSTM 2023
- Save the Date: Transfusionists Talk
Upcoming Events
- CBS/ORBCoN Technical Dry Workshop
- Register: 18th Annual Transfusion Medicine Webconference
- UofT TM Rounds

The Specialist in Transfusion Science Program

Dr. Gwen Clarke
Specialist in Transfusion Science Lead & Clinical Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology University of Alberta Hematopathologist, Island Health Victoria BC
and
Dr. Jelena Holovati
Associate Professor and Director, Graduate Studies
Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
Laboratory Director, Stem Cell Manufacturing
Canadian Blood Services

The Specialist in Transfusion Science (STS) program is a new training program, currently in development, which will offer advanced training for medical technologists. Intended for those with work experience in transfusion medicine, this program will allow individuals to develop and demonstrate an area of advanced competency in transfusion.

The idea for this program was born at the 2015 CSTM annual meeting in Winnipeg. At that national venue during the lecture delivered by Bob Fallis upon his acceptance of the Buchanan Award, Bob spoke of the need for an opportunity for technologists working in transfusion medicine to develop advanced knowledge and skills in transfusion science and leadership, and to be afforded a means of demonstrating those advanced competencies through a certification process.

This idea was subsequently championed by the board of directors of the CSTM, and in 2020 an education subcommittee was tasked with the initial planning for such a program.The group included Technologists, Scientists, Educators and Physicians from locations across Canada and with work experience in large and small transfusion services, blood suppliers, industry, and quality systems. *

The group began by developing a needs assessment survey that was distributed across Canada. Ninety-two surveys were sent to transfusion medicine leaders at hospital transfusion services and blood suppliers. Surveys were completed by 60% of recipients (53/92) and confirmed there was a need for training and recognition of specialists in transfusion science to fill leadership positions in transfusion laboratories across the country. Further, the survey indicated that many sites would be willing to serve as training venues for experiential learning associated with such a program. Survey respondents indicated that advanced competencies in technical, managerial and clinical skills were important.

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Concomitantly with the needs assessment the STS committee undertook a review of similar programs around the world. The content of the Specialist in Blood Banking program from the United States was reviewed along with advanced training courses from the United Kingdom and Australia. While content and ideas from other programs were helpful, it was clear that a made in Canada approach to training was needed when the results of the needs assessment were compared with the available international programs.

The next steps, led by the educators and quality specialists on the committee, involved development of a series of competencies. These competencies were based on a quality systems framework and were designed to demonstrate what program graduates would be able to do and the skills they would have, upon completion of the training program. Using an iterative and consensus based process, 56 competencies were established as the foundation for the training program. These competencies will be maintained by the subject matter experts at CSTM STS subcommittee and will be regularly reviewed and updated. The competencies will also form the basis for a portfolio of materials that will be used to assess candidates for certification as specialists in transfusion science.

The competencies developed by the committee were each accompanied by a broad recommendation around how that competency could be assessed, and the learning activities that might lead to achievement of the competency. The competencies were grouped into categories leading to the development of 6 courses that will form the first part of a 1 – 2 year course of study.
Following the STS committee’s work in development of the competencies and courses the torch was passed to the University of Alberta Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology as the educational partner in the development of this training program. Supported by Alberta Precision Laboratories and Canadian Blood Services as additional training partners, the STS program is planned as a laddered, 1 – 2 year approach to advanced training of medical technologists allowing for a certificate of competency after the first year and an MSc degree after the second. In future, similar programs for advanced training in other fields of medical technology are envisioned. Other educational institutions may also choose to develop a similar course of study based on the established competency framework.

Candidate admission to the STS program may include those with an MLT and BSc, those with an MLT (diploma), and those with international credentials. All will require a formal pre admission evaluation of skills and experience as well as academic equivalency assessment. Prospective candidates will require substantial work experience in transfusion as a prerequisite to admission.

Once enrolled, trainees will undertake one year of course based study (6 courses with 3 credits each) including topics in immunohematology, immunohematology techniques, clinical transfusion support, blood supply management, laboratory management and quality systems. A second year, for eligible candidates, will include a 6 credit capping project, elective courses and experiential learning/observerships in relevant laboratory settings.

Successful completion of the first year of the program will lead to a certificate of specialization in transfusion science. Completion of the second year will lead to a Masters of Science degree in Laboratory Medicine and Pathology.

Work is ongoing to establish University and funding agreements for the program and to develop detailed curriculum plans for the courses. This curriculum will be reviewed by experts in the transfusion community prior to implementation. Discussions are also underway to determine the optimal pathway for credentialing and licensing of this and other similar advanced training programs. It is hoped that the first candidates will be accepted for entry into the program in 2024.

*The STS Subcommittee membership can be found here: https://www.transfusion.ca/Members/Committees/Specialization-in-Transfusion-Science-Committee/Administration-and-General

Assisting hospitals with optimal inventory management

Disclaimer: reposted with permission from Canadian Blood Services
View the original article

The Amber Phase declared in December 2022 highlighted the need to have both complete hospital disposition and inventory data. How can the Average Daily Red Cell Demand (ADRD) and Inventory Index (II) assist hospitals with optimal inventory management during green phase (normal) operating conditions?

“In my early years as a charge technologist of transfusion medicine, Canadian Blood Services reminded me to look at blood utilization for their demand forecasting,” says Heather McMahon, Charge Technologist, Blood Transfusion, Laboratory Services, Royal Victoria Regional Health Center in Barrie, Ontario. When the Ontario Regional Blood Coordinating Network’s (ORBCoN) inventory calculator tool was introduced, I used this to determine the target inventory red blood cell levels (green phase) and those required in amber or red phase of our Emergency Blood Management Plan on a yearly basis using my most recent 12-month disposition. It is easy to use and accurate. The current version provides estimated target levels for one, two, five, eight and 10-day inventory stock levels.

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Prior to our Canadian Blood Services/Ontario Regional Blood Coordinating Network (ORBCoN) site visit in November 2022, I reviewed the disposition data they provided and noted a decrease in red blood cell utilization in 2021 from the previous two years. The inventory calculator tool was used, and our inventory levels were adjusted. There was a notable reduction from a total of 111 to 101 red blood cells for our routine stock. In determining levels, I also take into account the distance we are from our Canadian Blood Services distribution site (86 km), especially for our stock of group O negative red blood cells, the number of units outdated, the number of routine deliveries per week and noting that we are the regional hospital in our area that may supply blood to other sites in emergencies considering how long a STAT delivery may take.

The National Emergency Blood Management Committee (NEBMC) uses disposition data and daily inventory levels that hospitals submit to Canadian Blood Services to understand the current state of both hospital and Canadian Blood Service inventory during a declared inventory shortage phase, like the recent Amber Phase. To calculate ADRD (red blood cells transfused + wasted ÷ 365 days) for a given hospital, Canadian Blood Services requires 12 current and consecutive months of red blood cell disposition data. To calculate the Inventory Index (current inventory ÷ ADRD) Canadian Blood Services needs a current inventory level submission and the ADRD. If a hospital is not up to date with either disposition or inventory submission, these markers cannot be calculated and then reviewed to understand whether a current inventory phase will continue or move to another phase (into Red or into Recovery). Lack of disposition and inventory data from some hospital customers in several provinces was identified as a gap for the NEBMC. Keeping disposition submissions current, and reporting inventory on a regular basis, and as directed by the Amber Phase Advisory, allows a hospital to practice timely inventory review and update based on a hospital’s own data, as illustrated in the example above.