Mediware Information Systems (Mediware) has reported that Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) Hospital has implemented the company's BloodSafe system.

The company said that with BloodSafe system, hospitals have greater control and improved access to the blood supply at the point of care as well as more information about each blood transfusion.

BloodSafe is a combination of hardware and software that includes ‘smart’ refrigerators, two-dimensional barcodes and technologies to help get blood to patients faster and more efficiently.

BloodSafe also features an FDA 510(k) cleared interface with Mediware’s HCLL Transfusion blood bank software to enable clinical intelligence at the point of distribution. BloodSafe can also operate as a standalone system.

BloodSafe creates a remote-release solution for hospitals so blood banks can securely store blood in areas of high need, electronically match blood to patients and dispense blood units to care providers as needed. Use of BloodSafe has been proven to improve efficiency of hospital staff, decrease time required to access blood and reduce waste.

Dr Mick Scanlan, medical director of transfusion medicine at OHSU, said: “With two hospitals that specialize in complex cases and costly therapies, safety, efficiency and waste are top concerns underlying our processes. BloodSafe helps us ensure we get the right blood products to the right patients fast. We also know exactly what happens to each unit so we can control our inventory efficiently and with minimal waste. The clinical and operational benefits of this system are compelling and unique.”

Thomas Mann, president and chief executive officer of Mediware, said: “This product has generated a lot of excitement within our customer base and I’m pleased to see another prestigious organization move from budgeting cycles to implementation. This product is the first of its kind. Its on-board intelligence and integration with the core blood bank system provide a compelling ROI as well as a dramatic improvement in safety and efficiency for clinicians.”