Reducing platelet wastage in a regional Australian haematology centre: Impact of phone calls to clinical staff for expiring platelet stock

Abstract

Background: Inventory management of platelets is critically important to avoid shortage and minimise wastage.1 In our centre this is challenging with a platelet order to delivery time of 12–24 hours and no other stock within a 400 km radius. Aim: To examine if phoning clinical haematology staff reduced platelet wastage. Methods: Our senior transfusion scientist introduced routine calls to haematology clinical staff when platelets were expiring in the next 12 hours. We compared Discards as Percentage Issued (DAPI) published in National Blood Authority reports for July–December 2016 prior to the intervention with DAPI for July–December 2018 after this intervention was routinely established. Excel spread sheets of platelet inventory and logs of phone calls to clinicians were also reviewed. Results: We observed an absolute reduction of 9.2% in DAPI between the two time periods (23.0% July–December 2018 vs 32.2% for July–December 2016). From July–December 2018 66 phone calls were made to clinical staff regarding expiring platelet stock. The total number of platelets issued in the two time periods was similar (391 July–December 2016 vs 387 July–December 2018). Discussion: Our results demonstrate a simple yet effective best practice inventory management strategy to reduce platelet wastage. We are not aware of any other centres who are utilising this strategy.