• Contents
• Letter of transmittal
• User guide
• part 1: overview of the nba and the blood sector
• part 2: highlights of 2011–12
• NBA's Performance
  (PARTS 3,4, AND 5)
• part 3: performance: securing the supply of blood and blood products
• part 4: performance: improving the sector and its management of risk
• part 5: performance: supporting appropriate and safe use of blood and blood products
  • Introduction
  • National Guidelines and Criteria for Use
  • Standards, Accreditation and Stewardship
  • Education
  • Clinical Governance and Data Systems
  • Networks and Communications
  • Quality Improvement Initiatives
• part 6: Corporate management
• part 7: financial management and accountability
• part 8: appendices

Part 5: Performance: Supporting Appropriate and Safe Use of Bloof and Blood Products

Education

The NBA considers education to be an important tool to:

• support the implementation of the PBM guidelines
• improve safety and address issues identified in haemovigilance reporting
• improve the quality of prescribing
• improve the efficiency of the handling of blood and blood products.

Over the past three years, using interest monies approved by the JBC, the NBA has supported the development and national rollout of education initiatives developed initially within jurisdictions.

BloodSafe eLearning Australia

In 2006, the South Australian Department of Health funded the development of an online education package for clinical staff involved in the transfusion chain. Now available nationally, the BloodSafe eLearning Australia is a unique, online, free education program providing health professionals with the knowledge to prescribe and use transfusion appropriately and safely. The courses continue to be very popular throughout Australia with over 127,000 people having registered for the program up to the end of June 2012.

During the year, two new courses became available: on postpartum haemorrhage in October 2011; and on iron deficiency anaemia in January 2012. A third course on critical bleeding/massive transfusion is under development and the original course on clinical transfusion practice has been revised. In addition, system maintenance, redesign of the website, enhancements of the reporting function, and revision of the database to allow for the new local health network reporting structures were completed. An external marketing company has been engaged to develop promotional activities to increase awareness of the modules with a range of stakeholders.

In January 2012 the JBC considered a comprehensive, independent evaluation of the program. The report found BloodSafe eLearning Australia provides value for money based on assessment of a quality product, its fitness for purpose and its impact on clinical practice. In May 2012 JBC members strongly supported the continuation of the program and approved further funding for at least three more years.

Graduate certificate in transfusion practice

The Graduate Certificate in Transfusion Practice continues to be offered by the Blood Matters program to both national and international students. The course is delivered online in conjunction with the University of Melbourne. More than 100 students have graduated since 2003, creating a wealth of highly skilled blood experts across our health system.