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It may look a bit like a vending machine, but Mediware Information Systems' BloodSafe serves a role more important than dispensing potato chips. In fact, BloodSafe may help to save lives by ensuring a safer, faster and more economical way to store and dispense blood supplies needed during surgeries.

"There are two points that are of major importance for hospitals when it comes to providing blood supplies," said John Van Blaricum, Vice President, Marketing and Communications for Mediware. "Safety and efficiency are the top priorities for hospitals. BloodSafe allows for an increased level of both."

BloodSafe is a refrigerator unit that not only holds blood units in a state of readiness, but with its barcode reader, it drastically decreases the possibility of mistakes regarding the proper blood units for patients. Since the unit is relatively small, it can be placed near an O/R and stocked with the needed supply. This allows for an adequate stock of units close at hand reducing the potential for waste which can occur when a doctor needs to send runners to the blood bank; often, more blood will be ordered than needed as a precaution - but if that blood isn't used, it may go to waste.

"Studies have shown that having blood readily available in areas of high need, actually reduces use and waste. This alone offers the hospital an impressive ROI that could potentially pay for the system in 12-15 months," said Van Blaricum.



BloodSafe was introduced recently for purchase and has already been put to work by Shands at the University of Florida, Academic Medical Center. "We were very impressed with the potential Mediware's BloodSafe offers," said Dr. Tisha Netzel, UF pathologist and Shands at UF's transfusion services medical director. "We believe it will reduce our costs, support our facility's patient safety objectives and be a tremendous asset to staff throughout the hospital."

Van Blaricum believes more medical centers will realize the benefits of BloodSafe and expects a strong interest in the product.