Electronic enhancements to blood ordering reduce component waste

BACKGROUND The effect on component wastage after enhancing the clinician's ability to order blood products in the computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system was investigated in a multihospital network. METHODS A novel field was added to the CPOE of eight hospitals within a health care system allowing the physician to reserve a red blood cell (RBC) unit for transfusion at a later time. Simultaneously, an electronic means of communication with the blood bank was implemented requiring the nurse to ensure that the patient was prepared for the transfusion before a product could be issued. The wastage rates in the 12 months after these electronic enhancements (Phase 2) was compared to the preceding 19 months of a non–CPOE‐based waste reduction campaign (Phase 1) and to the 24 months before the campaign (baseline period). RESULTS There were significant reductions in platelet (PLT) waste between the baseline period and Phase 1 (p