Bank To Bedside Case Study
Bank to Bedside: A reliable and efficient transportation of blood by Pneumatic tube System
Dr Manish Raturi, Dr Shamee Shastry, Dr Aaditya Shivhare
Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion. Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Manipal University.
Background
Time taken by the service providers is one of the most important quality indicators in healthcare sector. Inefficient and inadequate intra-facility logistics may increase turnaround time (TAT) healthcare delivery costs, energy costs apart from various other factors. Therefore, current trends in healthcare require optimal utilization of resources and innovative technologies for an extended safety and quality care of the patients. The transportation of specimens, request forms, reports, …show more content…
This has a computer-controlled network of tubes (6.5 inches diameter) supplied by Swisslog Germany.5 System specifications are described (table 1).6 The system requires negative and positive air pressure generated by a motor located at the pneumatic station hub for the transportation of the carriers which traverse a maximum of 829 feet (253 meters) involving 16 bends and eight transfer units at the speed of 25 feet/second (7.6 meters/second).7 The “tube carriers” are made of high impact resistant polycarbonate material. They are 4.5 inches in diameter and 15 inches in length. Sponge carrier insert was used for protection of blood bags during transportation. The allowable maximum load that could be transferred in one carrier at a time was 3 kilograms. Upon arrival at the destination station, the carrier is decelerated by an air cushion and dropped gently into a receiving basket. Once the carriers are sent through the tubes, its movement can be tracked from the computer control room. The time of dispatch and the time of delivery can be monitored and the time taken between two stations can be …show more content…
The average time taken by PTS/HBT in Zone 1 (less than 200 metres) was 0.72 / 6.23 minutes. Zone 2 (200-1000 metres) was 0.79 / 8.21 minutes. Zone 3 (more than 1000 metres) was 1.80 / 10.30 minutes. Statistically there was an extremely significant difference in the average time taken between PTS and HBT in all the three zones (p< 0.0001) (figure 2)
Quality parameters of blood components:
Conveyance in the PTS did not have any negative impact on the quality of any of the blood component. We compared pre and post transportation laboratory values and there was statistically no significant change in these parameters (table 2).
Packed Red Blood Cell Units: The mean change in the plasma hemoglobin level in PRBC units with and without additive solution was 0.02 and 0.088 respectively. Percentage hemolysis in both the groups was less than 0.8. Platelet Concentrates: Post PTS transport, swirling was present in all the units and the mean change in pH level was 0.06 units. There was no significant change in the cell counts or the metabolic parameters. Fresh Frozen Plasma: There was no prolongation of PT, APTT and INR
Dr Manish Raturi, Dr Shamee Shastry, Dr Aaditya Shivhare
Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion. Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Manipal University.
Background
Time taken by the service providers is one of the most important quality indicators in healthcare sector. Inefficient and inadequate intra-facility logistics may increase turnaround time (TAT) healthcare delivery costs, energy costs apart from various other factors. Therefore, current trends in healthcare require optimal utilization of resources and innovative technologies for an extended safety and quality care of the patients. The transportation of specimens, request forms, reports, …show more content…
This has a computer-controlled network of tubes (6.5 inches diameter) supplied by Swisslog Germany.5 System specifications are described (table 1).6 The system requires negative and positive air pressure generated by a motor located at the pneumatic station hub for the transportation of the carriers which traverse a maximum of 829 feet (253 meters) involving 16 bends and eight transfer units at the speed of 25 feet/second (7.6 meters/second).7 The “tube carriers” are made of high impact resistant polycarbonate material. They are 4.5 inches in diameter and 15 inches in length. Sponge carrier insert was used for protection of blood bags during transportation. The allowable maximum load that could be transferred in one carrier at a time was 3 kilograms. Upon arrival at the destination station, the carrier is decelerated by an air cushion and dropped gently into a receiving basket. Once the carriers are sent through the tubes, its movement can be tracked from the computer control room. The time of dispatch and the time of delivery can be monitored and the time taken between two stations can be …show more content…
The average time taken by PTS/HBT in Zone 1 (less than 200 metres) was 0.72 / 6.23 minutes. Zone 2 (200-1000 metres) was 0.79 / 8.21 minutes. Zone 3 (more than 1000 metres) was 1.80 / 10.30 minutes. Statistically there was an extremely significant difference in the average time taken between PTS and HBT in all the three zones (p< 0.0001) (figure 2)
Quality parameters of blood components:
Conveyance in the PTS did not have any negative impact on the quality of any of the blood component. We compared pre and post transportation laboratory values and there was statistically no significant change in these parameters (table 2).
Packed Red Blood Cell Units: The mean change in the plasma hemoglobin level in PRBC units with and without additive solution was 0.02 and 0.088 respectively. Percentage hemolysis in both the groups was less than 0.8. Platelet Concentrates: Post PTS transport, swirling was present in all the units and the mean change in pH level was 0.06 units. There was no significant change in the cell counts or the metabolic parameters. Fresh Frozen Plasma: There was no prolongation of PT, APTT and INR