Accumen.com
CASE STUDY
Introduction
For many hospitals, blood transfusion is the most common in-patient medical
procedure. Blood products are also one of the largest line items in a multimilliondollar laboratory budget. Unfortunately, transfusion practice often varies widely
between physicians and specialties and may be unnecessarily used as much as 4060% of the time. In 2011, Sharp HealthCare’s leadership raised concerns about
the considerable amount spent on blood products, as well as the accumulating
evidence that unnecessary or avoidable transfusions are associated with increased
rates of patient complications. After exploring their options, Sharp enlisted the help
of Accumen to assist in the development and execution of an innovative long-term
Comprehensive Patient Blood Management (cPBM) program.
Case for a Change: Opportunity for Optimal Blood Use
Sharp is a multi-hospital health system with high blood use specialties including a
Level II trauma center, high acuity cardiovascular surgery, organ transplant,
oncology and marrow transplant services, high-risk obstetrics and a Level III
neonatal intensive care unit. Sharp set ambitious goals to reduce blood use and
decided support from an experienced partner like Accumen would both uncover and
accelerate value as well as establish sustainable improvements. At the core of
Accumen’s cPBM vision is a patient-centered model that addresses blood product
utilization, transfusion practices, and patient optimization before, during, and after
treatment. Accumen’s unique value proposition is anchored by three key
competencies: PEOPLE (former clinicians with decades of collective experience in
establishing and supporting blood management programs), PROCESS (broad
education, change management strategies and project playbooks), and
TECHNOLOGY (Lab Management Suite that identifies high yield opportunities and
effectively drives change). Sharp was convinced Accumen’s partnership strategy
was the best model in the industry.
Proven Results: Comprehensive Program Contributes to Safer Patient
Care and Millions of Dollars Saved
Beginning in January 2012, Accumen helped Sharp take the first steps in implementing
a cPBM program by analyzing baseline blood utilization data, educating Sharp
physicians and nurses on evidence based transfusion best practices and developing
an effective infrastructure of clinical champions to ensure oversight and sustainability.
The team identified and prioritized high impact opportunities and delivered a roadmap
for a successful implementation of a cPBM program. The key to Accumen’s success
was through leveraging a highly skilled team and robust execution model capable of
managing and driving results across the program.
© Accumen 2015. Visit us online at Accumen.com
Accumen.com
Accumen’s National Director, Mary Ghiglione, RN, MSN, MHA, was instrumental in assisting
key Sharp clinicians including physicians, nurses, and laboratory professionals, in establishing a
successful cPBM program. “With Accumen’s guidance in patient blood management we have
accomplished what we could not do on our own” said Dr. Christopher Wixom, Chief pathologist
and Chair of the Memorial Transfusion Committee at Sharp
Memorial Hospital.
Over three years, Sharp’s cPBM program has successfully saved millions of dollars associated
with blood acquisition costs, preserved a precious community resource, and proactively reduced
the risk of unnecessary patient exposure to blood products. Several of the key accomplishments
and results achieved to date:
§ Over 6,000 patients avoided exposure to blood products (Chart A), also deterring
additional transfusion cost estimated at 3-4x Sharp blood acquisition costs (Storage,
Testing, Processing, Labor, Overhead, Adverse Events)
§ 30% reduction in overall direct blood product acquisition cost, and a 34% reduction
(Chart B) in expenditure for blood per Adjusted Patient Discharge (APD)
§ 40% improvement in physician compliance with evidence-based transfusion guidelines
§ Recipient of the 2013 Sharp HealthCare Pillar and Core Value Award for Quality for
improving clinical excellence and patient safety
“With Accumen’s partnership, we have reduced risk to patients and decreased our cost
through better management of our blood products” said Dan Gross, Executive Vice President
of Hospital Operations for Sharp HealthCare. The cPBM program is being built for long-term
success and sustainability. As a reflection of this commitment and partnership, the team is
continuing to expand the cPBM program into other critical specialty areas (e.g. cardiac surgery
and trauma), as well as, future advanced patient optimization opportunities before, during, and
post treatment. “As the journey continues”, said Accumen’s Mary Ghiglione, “we are excited by
Sharp’s ongoing commitment to patient blood management, patient safety, our partnership,
and the shared objectives for building a world-class program.”
Chart A: Patients Transfused Per Month
ACCUMEN
cPBM Kick-off
Chart B: Expenditure for blood per Adjusted Patient Discharges
ACCUMEN
cPBM Kick-off
Months
Months
© Accumen 2015. Visit us online at Accumen.com