In order to fulfill its mandate, ORBCoN engaged in a strategic planning exercise which identified goals and key activities to achieve these goals. Some of the key activities that will be carried out by ORBCoN include:

Goal #1 – Promote and Support Utilization Improvement Activities

IVIG Audit: – The purpose of this audit of practice is to collect data on utilization practices for the product Intravenous Immune Globulin (IVIG) by the top users of the product in Ontario. The use of IVIG, a blood product manufactured from donor plasma has risen dramatically across Canada over the years since its development, exceeding 10% each year. Ontario hospitals account for approximately half of the product use in Canada (excluding Quebec). Supply of the product is limited, therefore, it is important to ensure use of the product is appropriate in terms of clinical indication as well as dosage (as compared to published guidelines for product use).

Cost of Transfusion in Ontario - The purpose of this project is to look at the typical costs associated with the collection and preparation of typical blood components and products by manufacturers and the costs associated with hospital handling, testing and administration of the blood product for transfusion purposes. The main objective is to create an educational tool that can be used to raise awareness, and help to minimize unnecessary wastage.

Goal #2 – Increase Patient Safety through Education, Standardized Best Practices and Surveillance

E-learning program for patients – This project is focused on delivering information to patients (or their family) who have received a blood transfusion or are expecting to receive one in the future. This project has resulted in the development of an interactive online educational tool, specific to patients and their families, on blood and blood product transfusions. Patients will be able to navigate through the course easily and at their own pace. This course was developed in collaboration with Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

Audit of Verification of Transfusion – There is an increasing focus on improving patient safety in Ontario hospitals. Despite this overall commitment, blood transfusion safety in hospitals often remains a low priority. Nurses play a key role in providing safe blood transfusions to patients. To improve transfusion related patient safety in Ontario, ORBCoN is involved in a project to improve nursing knowledge around blood transfusion and to focus on compliance with best practices in blood administration.

Transfusion Committee Tool Kit – The purpose of this project will be to develop a tool kit to help the hospitals in Ontario comply with regulations that require the formation of a Transfusion Committee. Many hospitals struggle to implement a Transfusion Committee. This toolkit will be designed to provide guidance to encourage the development of a well functioning and effective committee that will result in improvements to patient safety.

Goal #3 – Promote and Support Best Practices in Inventory Management

Develop Red Cell Redistribution Model for Province – Redistribution of red blood cells between facilities can help to minimize wastage rates and make more efficient use of blood inventory overall. ORBCoN is a member of the National Working Group for Redistribution, and this group currently is in the process of validating specific transport boxes for the purpose of red cell redistribution to be used between facilities. Standardized work instructions and forms are in development to help ensure product transferred between sites will maintain product quality and traceability.

Develop Benchmarks for Product Wastage for Ontario - Using data from Ontario hospitals and the blood supplier, ORBCoN can help determine trends in blood component usage and wastage to establish benchmarks for Ontario Hospitals. These benchmarks will take into consideration the size of the facility and how far the facility is from the nearest blood supplier. Establishing “best practices” using facilities that demonstrate lower wastage rates, and sharing strategies for inventory management will ultimately result in a decrease of the wastage rates of blood components in Ontario.

Develop a provincial contingency plan for hospitals – In times of blood product shortages, a contingency plan must be in place to ensure that essential blood components will be available for patients on an equal basis across the Province not dependant on geographical location. ORBCoN, in conjunction with a provincial Working Group is developing a guidance plan to help ensure Ontario hospitals will have a plan to address blood shortages and this plan will assist in ensuring a consistent approach is taken across the Province and with the National Blood Supplier (Canadian Blood Services).

Goal #4 – Provide and receive timely and relevant information to/from hospital stakeholders

Website Redesign – This project is dedicated to the redesign of the website “Transfusion Ontario”. This website will provide information on transfusion medicine for Ontarians and serve as a communication mechanism for the Ontario Blood Programs Coordinating Office (BPCO) and ORBCoN. The goal of this website is to increase knowledge on transfusion medicine, and provide a sense of “community” for those involved in transfusion medicine.

Bi-Annual Newsletter – This newsletter “The ORBCoN Report” will provide the Transfusion Medicine community with information on transfusion practices and patient safety. The objective of this project is to improve knowledge and awareness on “hot topics’ in Transfusion Medicine, as well as provide information on BPCO/ORBCoN projects and initiatives.

Online Surveys – These surveys serve to collect data from Ontario hospitals for baseline reference on quality management, utilization management, inventory control management, patient safety, and contingency planning for blood supply shortages. The resulting information aids ORBCoN and the BPCO to develop strategies to provide support for and look for improvements in practice for Transfusion Medicine professionals in Ontario.

To receive more information on these or any other projects the ORBCoN group is working on please go to the members section and enter your username and password. If you do not have a user name and password, please sign up and become a member.