Unlocking the potential of electronic blood transfusion systems: Implementation insights from NHS hospitals in England.
Tomini F., Staples S., Evans H., Farabi H., Murphy MF., Green L., Dhiman P., Fabiano G., Palmer AJR., von Neree L., Sherliker L., Stanworth SJ.
Electronic blood transfusion (EBT) systems have the potential to significantly enhance patient safety and healthcare efficiency. Although national guidelines recommend their implementation, widespread adoption requires addressing gaps in evidence regarding cost-effectiveness and clinical impact. This study assessed EBT implementation in English hospitals via a 2023 survey focusing on three key components: (i) electronic blood fridges (EBFs) for traceability and stock management, (ii) electronic blood ordering systems with clinical decision support (CDSS) and (iii) bedside patient identification (PID) systems. The survey also examined EBT integration with electronic health records (EHRs) and inter-hospital record linkages. Among 206 surveyed hospitals, 114 responded, resulting in a 55.6% response rate. Of the responding sites, 76 (67.3%) had implemented at least one EBT component. EBFs were the most adopted technology (65 sites; 57.5%), followed by bedside identification systems (37 sites; 32.7%). Advanced systems like CDSS were implemented in only 16 sites (14.2%). Barriers to adoption included financial constraints, limited senior management engagement and technical challenges. Our results show variability in EBT system adoption across NHS England hospitals. There is a pressing need for cost-effectiveness analyses to support investment decisions, while evidence of clinical effectiveness is needed to justify advanced EBT systems and overcome organisational barriers.