Background and Objectives Patient blood management (PBM) programs seek to improve clinical outcomes by avoiding unnecessary exposure to blood products. Recognising the risks of anaemia and immunomodulatory impacts of transfusions, PBM uses multidisciplinary and multimodal preventive measures to reduce the need for transfusions. To our knowledge, the Western Australian patient blood management program is the first specifically state-government funded state-wide program. We describe the implementation process and outcomes of this unique program from 2008 to 2015.Materials and Methods Implementation was undertaken within four metropolitan tertiary hospitals using a multimodal, multidisciplinary team approach. This included appointment of hospital-based PBM medical and nursing staff, education of clinical staff, provision of individualised data to support change in clinical practice, development of care pathways to ensure screening and correction of preoperative anaemia and involvement of primary care.Results These interventions achieved a decline in transfusion rates and red cell utilisation despite an increasing population and hospital activity.Conclusion Key elements of program success included appointment of hospitalbased PBM staff, establishment of multidisciplinary committees with support from enthusiastic clinical staff, data provision to hospital departments and the national and international context in which this work occurred. Lessons learned included overestimating the value of staff education and culture change alone.

Transfusion safety coordinators (TSCs) are an integral part of the transfusion process, which involves many interlinking chains of events and a multidisciplinary group of health professionals. In Australia, individual hospital‐based TSCs have been in place for several decades, with state‐based collaboratives commencing in 2002. The role has expanded across the country and currently there are 113 dedicated TSC positions and many more staff involved as blood/transfusion champions. There are also 12 transfusion nurse (TN) positions within the Australian Red Cross Blood Service. Over time both TSC and TN roles have evolved to meet the changes within the Australian blood sector. The primary focus of safety and appropriateness has now evolved to be more patient‐centred by incorporating patient blood management (PBM) initiatives. National PBM guidelines, statements, strategies, criteria and healthcare standards specifically focused on all aspects of transfusion have influenced this evolution. TSCs undertake diverse roles and activities that vary significantly between health services and within each jurisdiction. Effective communication and change management skills are integral to the success of the role. Conclusion: The TSCs are highly recognised within the transfusion team and the role continues to evolve with the changes in the Australian blood sector. The term Transfusion Safety Coordinators (TSCs) has been used to describe roles such as transfusion nurse/trainer/practitioner/safety officer/clinical nurse consultant and PBM nurses.

For many years, nurses have performed the tasks related to blood transfusion monitoring and the associated quality-control documentation. There have been multiple job titles given to healthcare providers in this field: haemovigilance officer, transfusion practitioner, transfusion nurse, patient blood management (PBM) nurse, blood conservation nurse and blood management nurse. These titles share some overlap in tasks. In this article, the authors discuss Australian and US experiences of the historical transfusion nurse role, and the newer title of PBM nurse. The article will attempt to answer the question: is it time these two job titles and roles were merged into one, creating the evolved role of PBM nurse? It will define the unique nature of these roles and attempt to explore any differences between them. PBM is becoming a standard of care and embedded in institutions around the world. The transition and adoption of a joint role is timely, and the article also addresses the issue of appropriate staffing levels. PBM has become the overarching phrase that addresses the prevention of transfusion as well as the quality and safety needs of transfusion medicine. The authors propose it is time to merge the roles of the PBM nurse and the transfusion nurse, which would ultimately benefit patients, as well as more thoroughly address the needs of hospitals.