Exploring patient participation in reducing health-care-related safety risks

Exploring patient participation in reducing health-care-related safety risks
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Information system
Rieux & Nguyen (21) suggest the allocation of human resources to haemovigilance
varies depending on the hospital. In everyday practice, haemovigilance correspondents
in hospitals are often compelled to carry out activities beyond their scope (notably
transfusion safety activities).
Health care facilities’ haemovigilance correspondents have been able to declare RARs
directly via an electronic system (Fig. 4.8) since 2004: there were 271 such declarations
in 2009, constituting 60% of all RARs from the dedicated electronic database (6).
Fig . 4 .8 . Number of health facilities declaring at least one transfusion adverse event through
the established declaration process, 2000–2009
Source: AFSSAPS (6).
Number of transfused patients: 538 506
Number of LBPs distributed: 2 979 170
Number of RAR declarations: 7 808
Number of confirmed cases of RAR of imputability 2 to 4: 5 902
Ratio per 1 000 LBPs distributed: 2.0
Huge efforts have been made to computerize transfusion files, despite difficulties, but
outcomes remain highly variable. Securing the improvement and computerization of data
exchange between the EFS and hospitals constitutes a priority for the haemovigilance
network. Haemovigilance correspondents should have access to all the information they
need in the transfusion chain (21). It is also important to define the number and nature of
undeclared adverse events.
Another important limitation of haemovigilance systems is the difficulty associated with
capturing information on transfusion-transmitted infections that have prolonged latency
periods. New strategies need to be developed to try to capture comprehensively this type
of adverse event (22). The development and systematization of medical information
is probably a key element for users’ participation in health care systems, as it can give
individuals the means to express their preferences and to negotiate their own care pathway
(with the health care organization and with their GP) (23).
Management of PDI is also of vital importance in blood safety. PDI comprises any
information about the donor declared or discovered after a donation that can affect
recipient safety or the quality of the LBP. In 2009, 14 809 LBPs were destroyed
following PDI reports indicating problems with the blood donor. The number of PDI
declarations has multiplied five-fold since 2003, reaching 1295 in 2009. The rate of