NATIONWIDE SURVEY OF HOME TRANSFUSION PRACTICES

BACKGROUND: Limited information exists on home transfusion practices. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In 1995, a survey requesting data for 1994 w as sent to 1273 American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) institution al members and 113 non-AABB home health care agencies that provide out -of-hospital transfusions. RESULTS: Of 943 respondents, 102 provide bl ood to a home transfusion program, 37 provide blood and run a home tra nsfusion program, and 13 run a home transfusion program only, for a to tal of 152 (16%) with some involvement in home blood transfusions. Mos t of the 50 respondents with a home transfusion program are licensed b y their state and accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. All respondents have written policies for home transfusion, and 90 percent require a signed informed-consent do cument before initiating transfusions in the home. Most have policies requiring that there be a second adult and a telephone in the home, th at the home be deemed safe for transfusion, that the patient's physici an be readily available, and that the patient have had prior transfusi ons. The most common component issued by the blood providers was red c ells, followed by platelets. White cell-reduced components were always provided by 36 percent of respondents. The most common patient diagno sis was cancer. Home transfusions were provided primarily by registere d nurses. Only 14 percent of respondents indicated that the medical di rector of the blood bank is responsible for approving a patient for ho me transfusion. A posttransfusion visit is performed by 46 percent of respondents. CONCLUSION: Although most facilities have policies for th e administration of home transfusions, there remains marked heterogene ity among blood providers and transfusionists regarding home transfusi on practices.