Setting up a modern & efficient blood bank

Author: Nour Alhomsi

Nour Alhomsi is Transfusion Safety Officer at Hamilton Health Sciences

Hospital bleed management isn’t just about moving blood from Point A to Point B, it’s about saving lives in the fastest, safest, and most efficient way possible. Yet, many hospitals still rely on outdated, fragmented workflows that create delays, increase product wastage, and put patients at risk. As Transfusion Safety Officers (TSOs), we see firsthand how small inefficiencies in blood management can mean the difference between life and death. 

So, here’s the big question: Why are we still managing massive hemorrhage cases with workflows designed for slower, less crisis-driven situations? I’d like to urge my peers to rethink transfusion strategies and embrace a new standard: evidence-based, streamlined workflows that reduce delays, improve outcomes, and modernize how we respond to critical bleeding events. 

The Problem: Delays and Inefficiencies Cost Lives 

Consider this case: