Quality Within Transfusion Practice

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

Distance (online)

The content for the three theory subjects will be delivered via:

• Text based Distance Learning Packages are delivered via a web-enabled Learning Management System (LMS) called SOLE
• Video presentations (sent out on CD) and the accompanying PowerPoint presentation notes (downloadable in PDF format via the LMS) are provided
• The practical Transfusion Specialty Practice subject is delivered through the use of a clinical practice portfolio.

The on-line facilitator is available online on Thursday (allocated class day, 8:00 am - 6:00 pm EAST) to respond to emails and check discussion postings and monitor progress on discussion threads. The on-line facilitator is also contactable at other times by email. Appointments for telephone discussions need to be made prior.

170 hours per 12.5 credit point subject.

It is advisable to allocate at least 7 hours per week to study. This includes reading the distance learning packages and watching the videos as well as completing activities, answering questions posted and participating in the weekly discussions. It is recommended that you read widely on the topic of Transfusion Practice / Medicine - the book of readings will assist however this is not an exhaustive list. This course is delivered entirely online so you will need to organise your time accordingly.

To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted in GC-TRNSPRC. This subject is not available for students admitted in any other courses.

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this course are articulated in the Course Overview, Objectives and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this course are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject covers a broad range of quality topics associated with transfusion medicine including; systems, principles and issues. The purpose of this subject is to provide the student with an understanding of quality policies and the clinical risk management issues relating to blood and blood products from collection to post transfusion management.

Topics covered include: haemovigilance and its importance, consent issues associated with the transfusion of blood and blood products, an understanding of the function of quality systems, risk management, traceability and recall, practical skills in relation to auditing, data analysis, change management and process facilitation skills, and the principles of blood product handling and transfusion reaction reporting and management.

At the completion of the subject, students should;

• Understand quality systems, principles and issues relating to blood and blood products
• Develop a strong awareness of quality policies and clinical risk management issues
• Understand practical aspects of transfusion improvement such as audit and data analysis

• 60% of assessment: 3,000 word essay, due at the end of the semester.
• 30% of assessment: 1,500 word essay, due half way through the semester
• 10% of assessment: Participation in remote learning forums. Student must
• contribute to questions posted on the forum and participate in discussion threads on a weekly basis.

• Vincent, C (Ed) Clinical Risk Management (2001) (2nd Ed) BMJ Books UK
• The National Safety & Quality Health Service Standards (2011)
• Clinical Risk Management: Enhancing patient safety (2001) Charles Vincent BMJ publishers

• Transfusion Medicine in Practice edited by Jennifer Duguid, Lawrence Goodnough and Michael Desmond (2002)
• Standards for Blood Banks and Transfusion Services (21st Edition) American Association of Blood Banks (2002)
• Daileys Notes on Blood (4th Edition) John F Daley (2002) Medical Consulting Group USA
• Guidelines for Blood Utilization Review (2001) American Association of Blood Banks (2002)
• Essential Haematology (3rd Edition) A.V. Hoffbrand & J.E. Pettit: Blackwell Science
• Transfusion Medicine in Practice (2002) J. Duduid, T. Goodnough, M. Desmond (Editors) Martin Dunitz Ltd
• Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology (6th Edition) Frederic Martini (2003) Prentice Hall

For more information please refer to the recommended & suggested readings provided by individual authors for each of the topics in the Quality within Transfusion Practice subject

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students who successfully complete this subject should:

• Develop knowledge and confidence in the important quality concepts as they relate to transfusion practice and to develop a greater understanding of the role that specific Quality and Safety processes have in Transfusion Practice
• Improve skills in reflective thinking on subject material and recommended readings