Preparing your blood centre for accreditation

Abstract

Despite advance in medical treatment, blood supply is still an essential element in modern healthcare system with blood transfusion used in almost every clinical specialty. Adequacy, quality and safety are always the key focuses of concerns in most countries that measures have been taken to secure them. As in many other healthcare facilities, many countries have on its legislation to license the operation of blood centres (whether they are national, Red Cross or hospitals based) to provide the blood supply for clinical transfusion. The licensing requirement is based on their national health policy and law. Besides, like hospitals and clinical laboratories, many blood centres may also seek to achieve accreditation to demonstrate to their stakeholders of their commitment to ensure quality and safety. Such accreditation may vary from technical requirements related to medical laboratory testing as ISO15189, professional related such as AABB to good manufacturing practice. Irrespective to the type and sources of accreditation, a superior quality management system is often necessary to provide the foundation to meet the accreditation's requirement with ongoing improvement. The study aimed to describe on the preparation of a blood centre towards accreditation. Few key elements will be outlined which include the top management commitment, selection of the right accreditation standard, training of the key personnel and organizational staff, gap analysis, documentation and change in practice if needed, internal and external audits. Tips and advice will also be included to ease the fear of accreditation processes.

Acreditação da Associação Americana de Bancos de Sangue: padrão para bancos de sangue e serviços de transfusão e um perfil brasileiro de adequação aos requisitos

“…Na China autores citam uma forma para que os hemocentros se preparem para o processo de acreditação ou certificação sendo estes requisitos técnicos expressos na ISO 15189 para testes de laboratórios médicos, como também para AABB e boas práticas de fabricação. Relata sobre os elementos chave para o processo tais como compromisso da administração, seleção do padrão correto, treinamento da equipe, auditorias internas e externa (WONG;YUEN;LEE,2018). O estudo cujo nome é "Aiming for quality and accreditation in the hospital blood bank" relata sobre o papel dos bancos de sangue no processo global de transfusão formando um elo entre os serviços de hemoterapia e os usuários do sangue.…”