TELECONSULTATION IN THE BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE
Abstract
Background. The transfusion services supply hospitals with blood and perform all the necessary pre-transfusion tests for the patient. Since it is a 24-hour service, Slovenia needs to have 10 on duty physicians, specialists in transfusion medicine, or physicians who specialised in other fields of medicine but have completed a post-graduate coarse in transfusion medicine. By using a teleconsultation in the transfusion services, it would be possible to increase a blood safety and assure the possibility of non-stop (24-hours) professional consultations with the aid of modern technology. This may be of particular importance when there is no specialist in transfusion medicine present in the department for transfusion medicine.
Methods. The transfusion services in Slovenia is performed at 11 institutions. Technically, it is supported by a suitable information technology, which can be upgraded to include the teleconsulting system, that enables exchange of professional information. The current information system supporting the transfusion services has been upgraded by the teleconsulting system which has already been tested in a pilot study.
Results. In the pilot study, blood grouping results were interpreted correctly when a picture of the coded gel card was transmitted to an improvised teleconsulting centre. That was the first telemedical service of its kind in Slovenia.
Conclusions. With appropriate organisation and by the virtue of teleconsulting system, it is possible to perform remote professional consultations. In this way telemedicine has found its place also in the field of transfusion medicine.
Downloads
References
Breskvar M, Lukić L. Deset let informacijskega sistema v slovenski transfuziologiji. BILTEN za ekonomiko, organizacijo, informatiko v zdravstvu 2000; 4: 100–3.
Vengelen-Tyler V et al. Technical manual. 13th ed. Bethesda: American Association of Blood Banks, 1999.
Anon. Guide to the preparation, use and quality assurance of blood components. 6th ed. Council of Europe publishing, 2000.
Potočnik M, Rožman P. Tveganje in varnost pri navzkrižnem preizkusu. In: 3. podiplomski seminar Zdravljenje s krvjo v kirurgiji: Zagotavljanje varnosti. Ljubljana: Klinični center Ljubljana – SPS kirurška služba, 2000: 70–4.
Chapman JF, Milkins C, Voak D. The computer crossmatch: a safe alternative to the serological crossmatch. Transfus Med 2000; 10: 251–6.
Cheng G, Chiu DS, Chung AS et al. A novel system for providing compatible blood to patients during surgery: »self-service« electronic blood banking by nursing staff. Transfusion 1996; 36: 347–530.
Galel SA, Richards CA. Practical approaches to improve laboratory performance and transfusion safety. Am J Clin Pathol 1997; 107: S43–S49.
Shulman IA, Lohr K, Derdiarian AK, Picukaric JM. Monitoring transfusionist practices: a strategy for improving transfusion safety. Transfusion 1994; 34: 11–5.
Williamson LM. Systems contributing to the assurance of transfusion safety in the United Kingdom. Vox Sang 1999; 77: 82–7.
Rožman P. Preventivni ukrepi za izboljšanje varnosti transfuzije in virtualni transfuzijski laboratorij. Zdrav Vestn 2002; 71: 245–9.
Breskvar M, Tasič J, Rožman P. Remote telemedicine terminal in the blood transfusion service. 7th International Conference on the Medical Aspects of Telemedicine Integration of Health Telematics into Medical Practicle, Regensburg. Eu J Med Res 2002; 7: 14–4.
Meža M, Tasič J, Jere A, Breskvar M, Rožman P. Mobile multimedia terminal in blood transfusion practice. In: Kovář B, Přikryl J, Vlček M eds. Proceedings of the COST. Prague: Czech Technical University, Faculty of Transportation Sciences, 2003; 65–70.
The Author transfers to the Publisher (Zdravniški vestnik/Slovenian Medical Journal) all economic copyrights following form Article 22 of the Slovene Copyright and Related Rights Act (ZASP), including the right of reproduction, the right of distribution, the rental right, the right of public performance, the right of public transmission, the right of public communication by means of phonograms and videograms, the right of public presentation, the right of broadcasting, the right of rebroadcasting, the right of secondary broadcasting, the right of communication to the public, the right of transformation, the right of audiovisual adaptation and all other rights of the author according to ZASP.
The aforementioned rights are transferred non-exclusively, for an unlimited number of editions, for the term of the statutory
The Author can make use of his work himself or transfer subjective rights to others only after 3 months from date of first publishing in the journal Zdravniški vestnik/Slovenian Medical Journal.
The Publisher (Zdravniški vestnik/Slovenian Medical Journal) has the right to transfer the rights, acquired parties without explicit consent of the Author.
The Author consents that the Article be published under the Creative Commons BY-NC 4.0 (attribution-non-commercial) or comparable licence.