A multilevel management framework was established by the NBA to coordinate the development of the new patient blood management guidelines. The management framework (illustrated in Appendix A) consists of:

• A Steering Committee, responsible for the overall development and governance of the entire project
• An Expert Working Group (EWG), responsible for clinical oversight and integration of the six modules
• Clinical/Consumer Reference Groups (CRGs – one for each of the six modules), with membership including representation from relevant colleges, societies and consumer groups, to provide expert knowledge and input
• Systematic reviewers and a technical writer, contracted by the NBA to review the literature and develop a draft of each module
• Guidelines Assessment Register (GAR) consultants, to provide advice and mentoring to the systematic reviewers, technical writer, EWG and CRGs; and to ensure that the development process and the guidelines produced comply with NHMRC requirements.

The NBA provided the secretariat, project funding and project management. The NBA website includes a list of colleges and societies that have endorsed these guidelines. ^c Appendix A lists the membership of the bodies involved in governance of the guidelines. Details of how the guidelines will be implemented and updated are provided in Chapter 6.

^b The structure of the Australian blood sector is outlined in Appendix C
^c  http://www.nba.gov.au/