Release of National Blood Safety Standards
For the Attention of
Hospital CEOs, OHA Board of Directors and
CACN Members
From Rosalind Smith
Vice President, Member and Professional Relations
The Ontario Hospital Association welcomed the release of CSA-Z902-04, the first comprehensive standard to encompass all aspects of Canada's Blood System. Blood and Blood Components, a management systems standard, was unveiled today by the Canadian Standards Association today at a press conference held at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto.
"Regulating all aspects of Canada's Blood System is critical to ensuring the safety of Ontario's patients," says Hilary Short, President and CEO.
Borne out of the Krever Inquiry recommendations and commissioned by Health Canada, Blood and Blood Components outlines requirements for blood-related policies and procedures and was developed through consultation with key blood system stakeholders, including hospitals.
CSA Z902-04 is a voluntary systems standard that places responsibility on health care facilities to develop their own policies and procedures based on best practices. Although Health Canada is encouraging hospitals to follow the guidelines as set out in the report, strict adherence to their tenets will only become mandatory when Health Canada references the standards into legislation. This implementation process could take several years.
Either voluntary or mandatory, the challenge for Ontario's hospitals will be ensuring compliance.
"While we welcome the implementation of system regulations," says Hilary Short, "bringing all hospitals up-to-speed will come with a price tag. Many cash-strapped hospitals will be faced with the additional burden of finding the resources needed to meet the requirements as outlined in the Blood and Blood Components document. And of course, hospitals will have no choice but to act; Patient Safety is at stake."
The good news for OHA's Member institutions is that there are tools, documented best practices and strategies available within the hospital system to assist with the transition. Access to these will be coordinated through the OHA and further information will be available to all OHA Members shortly.
For more information contact, Sue Owen at 416-205-1367 or email sowen@oha.com