Outpatient Blood Transfusion Emergency Response

Authors

• Sherri Tatu, Corewell Health East
• Natalie Dennis, Corewell Health East
• Alesia Jirjis, Corewell Health East
• Alex McGinnis, Corewell Health East

Files

Disciplines

Nursing

Description

Background

Outpatient blood transfusions are increasingly performed in hospital-based short stay and outpatient infusion units. While transfusion reaction management is embedded within the Outpatient Blood Transfusion Order set, emergent clinical deterioration unrelated to transfusion reactions lacks a consistent and clear response pathway in the outpatient setting.

On 1 South Short Stay Unit (1S SSU), patients experiencing symptoms wuch as shortness of breath, hypotension, chest pain, stroke symptoms, or sepsis are unclear and inconsistent. Ordering providers are often off-site, and the current Rapid Response Team (RRT) response is outlined for Inpatient setting but limited to Basic Life Support (BLS) and transport only, without authority to stabilize patients on scene.

Purpose

To develop and implement an Outpatient Transfusion Emergency Response Protocol that empowers nurses and the Rapid Response Team to provide timely, standardized assessment, stabilization, and escalation, reducing risk and improving patient outcomes.

Publication Date

5-6-2026

Recommended Citation

Tatu S, Dennis N, Jirjis A, McGinnis A outpatient blood transfusion emergency response. Presented at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital; 2026 May 6-12; Royal Oak, MI.

Comments

Nurses Week at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, Royal Oak, MI, May 6-12, 2026.