A simple program to improve the appropriateness of red blood cell transfusions in non-bleeding hospital patients: a before-and-after study.

INTRODUCTION: Transfusion of red blood cells (RBCs) is not devoid of risks; nor is anemia. The aim of the study was to assess the usefulness of a program designed to improve the appropriateness of RBC transfusions in hospital patients.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed time periods before and after program implementation.

RESULTS: Before program implementation 415 out of 23492 (1.8%) patients received at least 1 RBC, whereas after implementation 162 out of 25062 (0.6%) did so. The percentage of appropriate RBC transfusions increased from 23.6 to 37.1%.

CONCLUSIONS: A simple program may lead to a 3-fold decrease in transfusion rate and a significant increase in the percentage of appropriate RBC transfusions.