First applications of computerization for blood banking were designed to internally support activities of our single blood facility. However, as the sphere of computer influence spreads, so grows the needs of Blood Service institutions. New challenges now confront us. Future computer automation must serve the blood services of an entire region, not just a particular institution. This new and increased level of computerization can best be achieved using new network technologies like Internet and WWW. The network would allow blood centers and hospitals throughout the region to share data about donors, blood products, patients, transfusions and other blood related data. Once established, it would operate under the name "Regional Blood Service Information Network".
Successful implementation of the proposed "Regional Blood Service Information Network" is only possible under the following conditions. Each institution must have a certain level of computerization. In addition, there must be an strong and capable communication infrastructure in a region. Finally, all participants must be willing to cooperate with each other and agree to adopt similar standards for information representation and exchange (for example, ISBT-128 and HL7).
The blood service for Ekaterinburg, Russia is mainly provided by the Sanquis City Blood Center. There are eight departments strategically located throughout the city where blood is collected and components are prepared, including testing laboratories. There are also a few other blood collection services. All of the Sanguis locations are computerized and connected to the Ekaterinburg city network (which is an Internet subnet) which allows for shared and immediate communication. Sanguis has developed its own computer system called "Pelican". This system covers all aspects of blood center activity and we are prepared and eager to work together and cooperatively as a founding member of the "Regional Blood Service Information Network".
Sanguis manages a database of all people in Ekaterinburg that, for one reason or another, do not qualify as blood donors. This database gathers and holds information from many other medical facilities and its information is used by all of the city's blood collection departments and centers. Currently, to make an exchange of information easier, Sanguis provides WWW-interface for this database. Another important project is a centralized blood product distribution system. It collects requests from hospitals, searches through all available inventories throughout the city and, as a result, eliminates the need for a client to call every collection facility. Much efforts has been devoted to intregration with hospital bed-side information systems. The central database is being developed that holds information on all transfusions taking place within the city. Medical personnel at each hospital would access this database prior to any transfusion and, once a transfusion is made, would send all related and vital information directly to the database. In addition, testing laboratories now use specially designed software which allows them to enter their blood test results into their computers, thus allowing them to transmit data in an acceptable format. This special software simplifies the process of entering this vital information into hospital information systems.
In conclusion, Sanguis City Blood Center has taken substantial steps in computerization and information sharing among our Ekaterinburg blood centers, collection facilities, laboratories and hospitals. Due to substantial positive results for medical care and treatment related to blood products and safety, efforts will continue to improve upon our city-wide system and, hopefully, to expand its advantages throughout our region.