Integrating innovative solutions into public healthcare operations is vital for improving service delivery and patient safety. However, the procurement of such innovations is frequently challenged by unmet needs that lack existing market solutions.
This challenge is being addressed by the BLOODMANSYS project, a transformative initiative at the Badajoz Flagship Hospital aimed at enhancing blood transfusion processes. This project represents a collaboration between FundeSalud, a public health organization, and AT Biotech, a company focused on developing innovative healthcare technologies.
BLOODMANSYS: Transforming Blood Transfusion Processes
Aida Agea, CEO of AT Biotech, shares insights into the project’s key phases, challenges faced, and its significant milestones since its launch. The BLOODMANSYS project is a critical step forward in enhancing the safety of the blood transfusion service at the Badajoz Flagship Hospital. Aida Agea explains, “Sitting at a table, doctors, nurses, technical political responsible, and technicians afford to design a new process to remove most known errors in the transfusion process.” A notable milestone is the development of a fully automated donor data management system, which is expected to significantly increase the donation capacity of the unit.
Challenges Encountered and Lessons Learned
Throughout the project, one of the main challenges was aligning the various professional roles involved in the transfusion process. Agea states, “Empathy, flexibility, and creativity are fundamental to understanding the reasons for opposing different proposals and avoiding blockages.” By prioritizing open communication and collaboration, the team managed to devise solutions that were acceptable to all, underscoring the importance of shared understanding in driving innovation.
Engagement with Key Stakeholders
The engagement of key stakeholders has been instrumental in the project’s progress. Agea notes, “Modesty, empathy, and active listening have been the engine for the agreement.” The team held initial in-person meetings to build trust, enabling them to transition to remote work effectively. Feedback from healthcare professionals guided the implementation process, leading to the inclusion of a comprehensive risk analysis that enhanced confidence and facilitated progress.
Future Plans for BLOODMANSYS
The project team is excited to launch a live pilot in October 2024. Agea mentions, “All the people involved are excited to achieve success, as it means an outstanding contribution for each.” The team is committed to measuring and analyzing the results to determine the potential for scaling the initiative to other regional units and hospitals.
Impact on the Community and Healthcare Sector
BLOODMANSYS is poised to reduce errors in the blood transfusion process, directly benefiting patients and enhancing the workflow for healthcare professionals. Agea emphasizes, “On the donation side, blood is a critical resource for the community. Increasing the capacity of the donation units by automating processes and removing paperwork is highly satisfying for donors and technicians.”
Institutional Impact and Broader Recommendations
For AT Biotech, the project aligns with its mission of improving blood processes in healthcare. Agea states, “Achieving success means making a personal contribution and putting a small grain into having a better world.” This success will foster customer satisfaction and contribute to business growth.
For organizations looking to implement similar innovation procurement strategies, Agea recommends, “To succeed, all the roles involved must recognize the reason for the pretended step ahead and the challenge it means and sit at the table without red lines, with empathy and flexibility.”
The BLOODMANSYS project exemplifies how collaborative efforts between public health entities and innovative solution providers can effectively address critical unmet needs in healthcare. By fostering such partnerships, the potential for groundbreaking advancements in patient safety and service delivery can be realized, ultimately improving the quality of care for all.
