Guidelines for the implementation and use of electronic medical records for transfusion

Foreword

July 2021, 1st Edition

There are difficulties incorporating best transfusion practice into electronic medical records (EMR), resulting in wide variation in when and how health services integrate transfusion. Integration is often not complete and may vary between institutions using teh same EMR platforms. This creates confusion and potential risk. These guidelines are designed to assist in the development of safe transfusion policies and worjflows, however far down the road a healath service is towards implementing EMRs.

Scope

This guidance is to help services implement safer transfusion practice using EMRs. It defines the requirements for systems where the EMR can be used as the second independent checker for blood product administration. One person, authorized to do so by the health service, can perform the checks with the EMR and appropriate software at the bedside. It also outlines important safety considerations when designing transfusion processes in an EMR that does not fulfil the requirements for replacing the double independent check. Even without a completely integrated system, benefits such as prompting during the transfusion process, may be gained from appropriate implementation.