German hospitals consume a Million units of blood too much
Germany requires so much donor blood per capita than any other country. Alone in the year 2017 in this country, more than 3.2 million units of blood were used. Of these, around a Million per year could be saved. This is the result of the Barmer hospital reports of 2019, the health insurance company in Berlin has presented.
A prerequisite for the economical use of blood, a consequent use of the so-called Patient Blood management (PBM), a special treatment approach to strengthening the body’s own blood reserves. "So patients are prepared for operations, unnecessary blood loss and transfusions and their risks seltener", Prof. Dr. Christoph Straub, Chairman of Barmer said.
Can help Patient Blood Management, especially the millions of people with anemia in Germany who have a planned surgery before. As a result, the risks and side effects of a Transfusion is to be avoided. PBM is based Essentially on three pillars. In addition to the treatment of anemia patients prior to a planned procedure, the blood loss during a clinic will be reduced stay overall. To do this, the patient is removed, for example, for diagnostic purposes, as little blood as possible. Transfusions only if there is an urgent need to use.
"Other countries such as the Netherlands are much further in the implementation of Patient Blood management. It is time that Germany nachzieht", Prof., Dr. Boris Augurzky, author of the hospital report and head of the competence area " said;Gesundheit" at the RWI – Leibniz-Institute for economic research in Essen. Only around 40 hospitals are officially a member of the "German PBM Netzwerk". Overall, a positive Trend was demonstrated, but Since the year 2009, a decrease in blood transfusions was observed in all the länder.
Barmer/NK
