Haemovigilance
Set of surveillance procedures covering the entire transfusion chain, from the donation and processing of blood and its components, to their provision and transfusion to patients and their follow-up. It includes the monitoring, reporting, investigation and analysis of adverse events related to the donation, processing and transfusion of blood, and taking actions to prevent their occurrence or recurrence (WHO, 2016)
Our Goals
- Continuous quality improvement of the transfusion chain through corrective and preventive actions to improve donor and patient safety.
- Improve transfusion appropriateness, and reduce wastage.
- Resembles any continuous quality improvement cycle and shows the same elements and activities.
Benefits
- Better care and stewardship of the gift of blood donation
- Improved donor and patient confidence and trust in the blood system
- Improved donor safety with a reduction in the frequency and severity of donor complications
- Greater confidence in the blood donation process
- Improved donor retention and return
- Early detection of deficiencies and weaknesses
- Continuous improvement in the quality of the services and products
- Improved public confidence and trust in the blood transfusion service system
- Reduction in errors, omissions and system failures
- Systematic and consistent reporting of all adverse events
- Development of skills and expertise in the area of total quality management
- Reduction in adverse events
- Better health care outcomes
- Less medico-legal action with an overall improvement of the community’s regard of a particular facility
- Early detection of emerging pathogens and the implementation of measures to mitigate the associated risks
- Identification and mitigation of noninfective risks
- Identification of trends in adverse events and opportunity for timely corrective action