Resilience Explored: Navigating Post-Pandemic Blood Products Utilization Trends and Supply Challenges in North America

Monday, October 21, 2024

3:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Location: 372

CE: 1.5 CME (AMA Physician Credit) / 1.5 CE (Non-Physician Credit)

Program Chair(s)

Ruchika Goel, MD, MPH, CABP (she/her/hers)

Senior Medical Director, Corporate Medical Affairs. Professor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics
Vitalant and Johns Hopkins University
Scottsdale, Arizona, United States

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

PDF

Speaker(s)

Courtney Hopkins, DO (she/her/hers)

Senior Medical Officer
Vitalant
Scottsdale, Arizona, United States

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

PDF
Baia Lasky, MD

Divisional Chief Medical Director
American Red Cross
Sharpsburg, Georgia, United States

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

PDF
Asim Alam, FRCPC, DRCPSC (he/him/his)

Medical Director, Assistant Professor
Department of Anesthesia & Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Canadian Blood Services, University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

PDF

Disclosure(s):

Ruchika Goel, MD, MPH, CABP: No financial relationships to disclose

Courtney Hopkins, DO: No financial relationships to disclose

Baia J. Lasky, MD: No financial relationships to disclose

Asim Alam, FRCPC, DRCPSC: No financial relationships to disclose

Session Desription: This educational session presents a comprehensive exploration of post-pandemic blood utilization trends and supply challenges in North America, featuring experts from prominent blood suppliers with a national footprint—the American Red Cross, Canadian Blood Services, and Vitalant. Attendees will gain insights into the dynamic landscape of blood donation and usage, understanding nuanced patterns and shifts in the current state of blood utilization. The discussion will address challenges faced by major blood suppliers during and after the pandemic, highlighting unique obstacles in maintaining a stable supply chain. It will end with the lessons learned and strategic measures being implemented to aim for a robust and sustainable supply of blood products.

As a 90-minute session incorporating an audience response system, the session will conclude with an engaging panel discussion and Q&A segment, providing an opportunity for participants to interact with speakers. This session is anticipated to be an enriching and forward-looking educational experience, aiming to collectively adapt, innovate, and strategize towards a resilient blood supply for the future.

The session will start with an overview of the Big Data picture of most recent blood collection, distribution and utilization trends from national collection surveys and multidimensional databases and registries. It will address changing donor demographics, and the impact of technological advancements on blood supply management and needs of healthcare institutions. Attendees can anticipate gaining foresight into the future of blood utilization and learning about proactive strategies employed by these leading organizations to stay ahead of the curve.

Learning Objectives:

Examine and analyze the evolving patterns and trends in whole blood and other blood component utilization across North America following the pandemic. Evaluate changing donor demographics, changes in donor deferral criteria and inter-donation intervals, modalities of increased donor diversity and donor engagement.
Assess the unique inventory management challenges faced by major blood suppliers, including the American Red Cross, Canadian Blood Services, and Vitalant, in maintaining a stable and efficient supply chain post-pandemic. Evaluate successful strategies specific to each blood component employed to overcome logistical hurdles and ensure a resilient blood supply system.
Utilize actionable insights from the experiences of these organizations and discuss practical strategies e.g. low dose platelets, low volume RBCs, extension of platelet outdate, Low titer group A plasma etc. employed to combat challenges and proactively adapt to emerging trends in blood utilization, enabling participants to enhance their own blood supply management.