Authors (including presenting author) :
Au DYS(1), Leung YCM(1), Lee KCY(1), Chan JKY(1), Pang JYW(1), Woo RBK(1), Hui H L (1), Cai K(1), Cheung NT(1), Siu VWS(2), Wong RSM(3), Leung RYY(4)
Affiliation :
(1)Information Technology and Health Informatics Division, Hospital Authority Head Office, (2)Clinical Effectiveness & Technology Management, Quality & Safety Division, Hospital Authority Head Office, (3)Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, (4)Blood Bank, Department of Pathology, Queen Mary Hospital
Introduction :
Blood transfusion is a routine medical procedure essential for patient survival, particularly during surgeries or in the treatment of various medical conditions. While it is generally safe, mistakes like patient misidentification can result in serious repercussions. In Hong Kong Hospital Authority, the Central Committees (CC) on Transfusion Service has taken the lead to safeguard the transfusion safety. In 2024, the committee has partner with HOIT team to develop the "Transfusion App", which is an in-house IT product to enhance patient identification and digitalize the transfusion record.
Objectives :
Although blood transfusion is typically safe, it carries substantial risks if a patient is misidentified. Such mistakes can result in serious complications. The Central Committees (CC) on Transfusion Service has set out numerous effective measures in ensuring transfusion safety. With the technology advancements in mobile technology and QR barcode-assisted verification, a recent project to build the "Transfusion App" to support blood product administration and transfusion record was set out since 2024 May.
Methodology :
To develop the in-house IT Product to support Blood product administration, the Central Coordinating committee on Transfusion has initiated and formed a multidisciplinary working group, to identify the critical areas for blood product administration. Key stakeholders including medical, nursing, hematopathology and IT professionals had laid down the key functionalities and requirement of the IT system: (i) Patient-to-product compatibility verification with hard-stop warnings on invalid administrations; (ii) Mandatory two-person checks for blood administration procedure; (iii) Real-time retrieval of product and patient data for seamless documentation
Result & Outcome :
Through a series of iterative prototype reviews and active stakeholder engagement, the project prioritized transparency and trust, effectively addressing concerns and promoting collaboration. The minimal viable product has been enhanced through 11 interactive scenarios, ensuring a user-centered design approach. The Transfusion App is slated for adoption at the Queen Mary Hospital in summer 2025; with plans for wider implementation across all 43 public hospitals. The development of the Transfusion App highlights the crucial role technology can play in improving patient safety within healthcare settings. By tackling key challenges related to blood transfusion processes, this initiative seeks to enhance both the accuracy and efficiency of transfusions.
