Kemptville District Hospital commended for good stewardship of Ontario’s blood supply

MARCH 31, 2014 – In a recent review of Ontario hospitals’ management of the province’s donated blood supply, Kemptville District Hospital (KDH) was cited for delivering excellent results.

The annual review was led by the Ontario Regional Blood Coordinating Network (ORBCoN), a Ministry of Health and Long-Term care funded organization that coordinates blood management in Ontario. ORBCoN conducted the review in collaboration with Canadian Blood Services (CBS), the supplier of blood and blood products to Canadian hospitals.

KDH CEO Colin Goodfellow (left) thanks lab staff Joanna Melesky and Jesse Trousdale for their efforts

ORBCoN recognized KDH for its work with two of the blood products derived from blood donations. The first was intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), which is administered intravenously to patients with immune deficiencies, autoimmune diseases and acute infections. Through careful management, including the use of a verification process for accurate dosing, the KDH lab team was able to reduce its usage of IVIG over the past three years, ensuring that the life-saving blood product is available for patients when they need it most.

The second blood product was the red blood cells used in transfusions to replace blood lost during surgery, a serious injury, or when a patient’s body can’t make blood properly because of an illness. ORBCoN commended the KDH lab team for closely monitoring their utilization of red blood cells to optimize usage. ORBCoN also applauded KDH for working collaboratively with Ottawa Valley hospitals to redistribute the red cell units before they become outdated and therefore unusable.

With a staff of six, the KDH lab manages the use of blood products and provides round the clock service, analyzing blood, urine and tissue samples for patients in every unit of the hospital.

“We are proud to work with ORBCoN and CBS to help fulfill Ontario’s blood utilization strategy – we know that our efforts to optimize our usage of donated blood products ensure better patient outcomes, appropriate use of blood and blood products, and decreased wastage,” said Anna Schlieper, who oversees the operation of the KDH lab on behalf of the Eastern Ontario Regional Laboratory Association (EORLA). EORLA is the laboratory operator for its 16 member hospitals in the Champlain LHIN, including KDH.

KDH CEO Colin Goodfellow thanked the lab team for their efforts. “In the fall of 2013,” he noted, “our lab was recognized for achieving a near-perfect score in its Ontario Laboratory Accreditation audit. To be acknowledged now for its excellent work in helping to manage the province’s blood supply demonstrates each lab team member’s commitment to quality.”

In congratulating KDH on its success in the annual review, Craig Ivany, the CEO of EORLA, explained why it’s so important that hospitals manage the blood supply well: “Excellence in managing this precious supply is important not solely because of cost constraints, but as important, at the end of the day, is the fact that those blood products were donated by a small number of altruistic Canadians who believe in giving of themselves to help others.”

About Kemptville District Hospital

Kemptville District Hospital is Accredited with Exemplary Standing, the highest ranking bestowed by Accreditation Canada. Committed to building healthier communities, we are a model of hospital-led integrated health services within the provincial health system. Kemptville District Hospital consistently ranks among the top hospitals in Ontario for both patient and employee satisfaction. We pride ourselves on being a good partner within the system. We operate on two sites and provide primary care management services, acute care hospital services, and advanced orthopaedic care.

For further information contact:

Jenny Read, Communications Lead

T: 613-258-6133 Ext. 223

Email: jread@kdh.on.ca