Blood Programs Coordinating Office (BPCO)

                         
The Blood Programs Coordinating Office (BPCO) was established in Fall 2005 by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC).

The BPCO is mandated to manage Ontario’s relationship with the Canadian Blood Services (CBS). The BPCO supports the Minister of Health, who is a corporate member of CBS, by providing advice and guidance regarding funding, strategic direction, Board of Director appointments and issues management.

The BPCO also provides leadership and coordination in the development and implementation of the provincial Blood Utilization Strategy. The strategy was developed with the objective of optimizing the safe use of blood and blood products in Ontario hospitals and consequently achieving cost savings related to transfusion. Ontario works to ensure that blood and blood products are available when needed, identify efficiencies in the system and standardize utilization practices.
                     

The Blood Utilization Strategy builds on the successes of the province’s previously funded Blood Conservation and Blood Management projects. Many of those projects, such as the Ontario Transfusion Coordinators (ONTraC) program, the Bloody Easy Handbook and e-Learning educational tools have been continued and expanded to form part of the current strategy.

A Blood Utilization Strategy is key because it allows for strategic blood management. Blood management involves the evaluation of current product utilization patterns to identify opportunities to reduce wastage. It also allows for variations in transfusion practices to be addressed by implementing blood management programs to optimize use. In addition to its financial benefits, strategic blood management will improve clinical outcomes and decrease risk exposure.

As a first step, monitoring and benchmarking of blood utilization patterns is undertaken to identify potential areas for improvement. Options for improved management can then be designed, targeted and the results evaluated. Elements of a blood management program can range from simply raising awareness to the implementation of blood conservation techniques, transfusion alternatives or gate keeping mechanisms to control use.

BPCO has implemented two additional programs to support blood management activities; The Ontario Regional Blood Coordinating Network (ORBCoN) provides an organized and integrated approach to blood management while the Ontario Blood Advisory Committee (OBAC) serves as a broad based external advisory group to the MOHLTC on all matters related to transfusion medicine.

The BPCO is excited about activities and initiatives provided through ministry funding including the expansion of ONTraC, the establishment of ORBCoN and OBAC, ongoing maintenance of the provincial transfusion website and the expansion of Ontario’s participation in the Transfusion Transmitted Injuries Surveillance System (TTISS) and Transfusion Errors Surveillance System (TESS). 

BPCO continues to work with the following key stakeholders and Working Groups:

                           
• ONTraC Steering Committee to provide input into ONTraC’s strategic direction and to provide oversight of the program and its organizational development.

• ORBCoN Steering Committee to review ORBCoN’s workplan to ensure projects are complementary to the provincial blood utilization strategy and to provide oversight of the program and its organizational development.

• The Contingency Planning Working Group (CPWG) to develop a provincial contingency plan in the event of a blood shortage.  This was completed and sent to Ontario hospitals in early 2008.  In 2010, the CPWG carried out a Blood Shortage Simulation Exercise to test the preparedness of hospitals.  Based on the outcome of the exercise and hospital feedback, revisions will be made to the provincial plan and toolkit in late 2010.

• Facilities Consolidation Working Group (FCWG) to facilitate the standardization of policies, provide a forum for open communication, and mitigate potential issues related to the CBS's facilities consolidation to one site in Brampton.

Any recommendations made by the WG will require MOHTLC approval before implementation.