Performance indicators in the blood bank of a tertiary care hospital, as advocated by the national accreditation board for hospitals and healthcare providers

Objectives This study aimed to assess the quality indicators (QIs) defined by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) in a blood center of a tertiary care hospital and to implement corrective and preventive actions for achieving the benchmark values of various quality control parameters. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional analytical study was designed and carried out at the Department of Transfusion Medicine in a tertiary care medical college and hospital in Chennai. All data were retrieved from records maintained at the blood center from June 2022 to May 2023. Problems were identified, and actions were undertaken to achieve benchmark values. Statistical analysis Data collected were entered in Microsoft Excel version 2016 and appropriate calculations were done according to the formulas depicted in NABH key performance indicators (KPIs). Values obtained were compared with benchmark standard data. Results Out of the ten KPIs that were studied, more than 75% met the quality standards. Interventions were planned for KPIs that did not meet the benchmark. The observed and post-intervention values for those are transfusion-transmitted infections-syphilis 0.17% and 0.17%, platelet wastage 46.06% and 36.2%, turnaround time for anti-human globulin phase cross-match 66.7 and 45 min, donor deferral rate 14.05% and 11.5%, and percentage of voluntary donors 66.6% and 74%, respectively. Conclusions Our study has provided valuable insights into adherence to NABH QIs. Even though adherence to these guidelines is not mandatory, achieving them through thorough analysis helped us to identify areas that require attention and improvement for establishing comprehensive vein-to-vein safety.