Computer Approach to Hospital Blood Bank Inventory Control

Abstract

Since February of 1967, the Yale‐New Haven Hospital's laboratory computer (IBM 1130) has been used for data acquisition and inventory control in the blood bank. The program has been designed to replace existing systems without adding personnel so that all procedures, including key punching and computer operation, are carried out by the blood bank technologists. Data are entered by a specially designed Hollerith card. Half of it, containing information that identifies each unit of blood by group and Rh, number, source, and expiration date, is key punched by a technologist at the time blood or blood products are received. The right half of the card is designed to accept data by a manual technic called Port‐A‐Punch. The daily report contains usage data by blood types and by clinical service. It also lists units transferred, outdated, or unaccounted for. This computer system has provided: (1) more accurate inventory data; (2) detailed usage statistics; (3) an increased awareness of outdating; (4) better blood utilization; and (5) time‐saving in record keeping. Far more important, each technologist has learned to use a new and important laboratory tool.

Blood Bank Inventories

“…Computer programs such as developed by Stewart and Stewart (1969) or Bove and McKay (1969) automatically collect the data necessary to maintain a rational ordering policy. How this is done will vary from institution to institution, and two examples of this have been discussed.…”

Two Years Experience with a Computer in a Blood Transfusion Center

“…As Bove and McKay [1] mention, the computer is an instrument which may induce character disturbances, which in turn give rise to bad temper, irritation and even neurasthenia when the work is not executed precisely. Optical mark sheet errors and punching errors imply automatic error messages which must be corrected, and thus complicate the work.…”

“…On the basis of information collected from persons acting as advisors and from users of conventional punched card equipment, especially Guimbretiere et al [1][2][3], we have chosen the following equipment:…”