New blood bank location opens in Legacy Tower

October 2, 2018

The past few weeks have been a flurry of activity as phase II of the Legacy Tower move-in drew to a close. In the final push, we opened the Heart Center outpatient clinic, moved 65 cardiovascular acute care and cardiovascular intensive care unit patients from West Tower to Legacy Tower, and opened our new catheterization labs and cardiovascular operating rooms. We also celebrated another exciting opening – a third blood bank, located on the 16th floor of Legacy Tower.

“The new blood bank is another major milestone for Texas Children’s,” said Transfusion Safety Officer Nicole Crews, RN. “Ensuring potentially life-saving blood products are quickly and more easily accessible is key to the care of many patients in Legacy Tower. This new location will increase efficiency and ensure we have the right blood products available when they’re needed.”

In an emergency situation when a blood product is needed, time is of the essence. If blood is closer to the bedside, runners don’t have to go as far to travel. Now, with locations in Legacy Tower, the Pavilion for Women and Abercrombie Tower (servicing both West Tower and Mark Wallace Tower), transport times could be reduced to as little as 5 to 10 minutes, down from 20 to 30.

In addition to proximity convenience, Texas Children’s blood banks are committed to providing the safest and highest quality blood products for our patients.

“Due to our tremendous volume and the diverse needs of not only our patients, but of the departments and service areas that require blood, we have to make sure we always have the right blood products available,” Crews said. “We provide plasma, platelets, red blood cells and cryoprecipitate for everything from pre- and post-op procedures to PICU patients, who can need three to four transfusions a day.”

At Texas Children’s, we’re fortunate to have a blood bank at each of our three hospital campuses. Combined, between 2,400 and 2,800 products (units and aliquots) are issued every month across our campuses, making transfusions possible for more than 500 patients.

The transfusion process comprises several steps and touchpoints – including type/screen collection and processing – and must be completed with the utmost safety, and at the highest standards, to mitigate risk and provide the patient with the best possible care. The blood bank is committed to meeting and exceeding the highest safety standards for every patient and every transfusion. To ensure that high level of excellence, Crews teaches the Five Rights of safe transfusion practices:

  • Right patient
  • Right processes
  • Right blood product
  • Right place
  • Right volume/rate

“We want staff across the hospital to know that the new blood bank in Legacy Tower is open and fully operational,” said Crews. “Many months were spent planning, preparing and validating equipment to ensure the utmost service is provided, and Transfusion Medicine and blood bank personnel are ready and excited to continue to grow with Texas Children’s and our patients.”

Learn more about our blood bank locations and which one you should visit to pick up your patient’s blood.