Athens Regional Medical Center was recently honored by VHA Georgia, Inc. for its work in Red Blood Cell Utilization Reduction.
 
A blood transfusion can be a life-saving intervention for many patients, but it is not without risk. In an effort to balance the benefits and risks, Athens Regional Medical Center instituted a conservative blood transfusion policy, developed by physicians and supported by research. Since implementation, Athens Regional has reduced utilization by 34% and has reduced cost by nearly $1.8 million.
 
“This is a good example of Athens Regional striving to provide the best quality of care possible. These types of efforts lead to a safer and a more cost effective hospital stay,” said Dr. Robert Sinyard, Vice President of Medical Affairs for Athens Regional Health System.
 
The VHA Georgia, Inc. Awards dinner was part of the annual Leadership Expo, held this year on Thursday, September 17th at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, GA. The event included education, networking and leading practice sharing that focused on how to navigate the complexities of health care. Participants were able to view over 80 member best practice posters. The event culminated a six-month process of collecting applications from member hospitals and an extensive peer review evaluation to select winners that participated in VHA Georgia’s 2015 Leadership Awards Program.
 
Members of the multi-disciplinary team responsible for this wildly successful effort are: Heather Alexander, Director of Quality and Patient Safety; Kate Doles, MPH, Clinical Practice Improvement Coordinator; Daniel Tench, MD, Pathologist; Cullen Morris, MD, FACC, Cardiothoracic Surgeon; Patrick Murrah, MD, FACC, Cardiothoracic Surgeon; T.J. Huang; MD, Hemotologist/Oncologist; Sue Ensley, Director of Laboratory; Candi Kles, RN, Manager of Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit.