The blood utilization calculator, a target-based electronic decision support algorithm, increases the use of single-unit transfusions in a large academic medical center.

BACKGROUND: Electronic decision support has been used to reduce use of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion. With the goal of reducing transfusions, we modified our RBC orders to default to 1 unit. Next, we created a target-based algorithm, the blood utilization calculator or BUC, to calculate a dose in units, based on initial hemoglobin or hematocrit and weight. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: RBC orders defaulted to 1 unit in March 2016 and the BUC was implemented in July 2016. This gave three periods to compare old orders (before intervention), new orders (1-unit default), and the BUC period. A hospital dashboard that tracks blood product orders was queried to determine changes in single-unit transfusions between periods. Changes in transfusions were compared by analysis of variance. Acceptance of the BUC dosage recommendation was studied in both medical-based and surgical-based specialties. RESULTS: The number of single-unit transfusions showed significant increases after each of the two interventions studied from 247 ± 19 before interventions to 358 ± 19 and then to 445 ± 141-unit transfusions/month (p < 0.0001). The ratio of 1-unit to 2-unit transfusions increased from 0.72 to 1.67 (p < 0.0001) and we observed a 19% overall reduction in units transfused. The BUC recommendation was accepted in 49% of orders. CONCLUSIONS: One-unit default orders and implementation of the BUC resulted in a significant increase in the use of single-unit transfusions. Improvement in the rate of acceptance of the BUC recommendation should further increase the use of single-unit transfusions.

Evaluation of five data sources for inclusion in a statewide tracking system for accidental carbon monoxide poisonings.

All accidental carbon monoxide poisoning should be preventable. Yet despite intervention efforts including promotion of inexpensive home carbon monoxide detectors, annual inspection of home gas and oil appliances, and general awareness campaigns, in 2002 there were 18 fatalities, 36 inpatient admissions, 351 emergency department visits and 117 poison center calls attributed to acute carbon monoxide exposure. The first step to help better focus public health interventions is adequate information on occurrences. The Wisconsin Environmental Public Health Tracking program identified and evaluated potential data sources for inclusion in a surveillance system for monitoring unintentional carbon monoxide poisonings. Criteria to evaluate the utility of the existing data systems were developed and included the number of new cases identified from that source, the circumstantial detail provided, timeliness of data availability, confidence that an actual exposure occurred, and the resources required to retrieve and summarize the data. Five candidate datasets were evaluated: emergency department visits, hospital inpatient stays, death certificates, Wisconsin Poison Center records, and newspaper reports. It was found that although there was some overlap between cases reported in the different datasets, each source provided unique cases. The sources also differed in the resources required for utilizing the data and the amount of circumstantial information provided. Based on the evaluation of the different sources, it was concluded that newspaper reports should not be included, but the other 4 data sources would each contribute substantially to establishing a comprehensive surveillance system for accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.

Training rates and willingness to perform CPR in King County, Washington: a community survey.

BACKGROUND: It has been hypothesized that high rates of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training in a community will lead to improved survival for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. However, factors to consider when designing a far-reaching community CPR training program are not well defined. We explored factors associated with receiving CPR training in the survey community and characteristics contributing to willingness to perform CPR in an emergency. METHODS: A telephone survey was administered to 1001 randomly selected residents in September 2008 assessing CPR training history, demographics, and willingness to perform CPR. Characteristics of survey respondents were compared to examine factors that may be associated with reports of being trained compared to reports of never being trained. A stratified analysis compared characteristics of respondents who reported a high level of willingness to perform CPR in those trained compared to those never trained. RESULTS: The survey response rate was 39%. Seventy-nine percent of survey respondents reported ever attending a CPR training class. A majority of people (53%) attended their most recent class more than five years ago. People who had never been trained in CPR were older, were more likely to be men and were less likely to have at least a 2-year college degree than those who had ever been trained. Among those who had been trained, younger age, male gender, time of last training and number of times trained were all significantly associated with willingness to perform CPR and none of these factors were associated with willingness in those who had not been trained. CONCLUSIONS: Retraining rates, methods for reaching underserved populations and measures that will improve the likelihood that bystanders will perform CPR in an emergency should be considered when designing a community CPR education program.