The purpose of this educational series is to improve health care providers' knowledge in the clinical practice of Patient Blood Management (PBM).  PBM has been identified by numerous national and global health entities, including the World Health Organization, as an urgent public health need. PBM encompasses the effective management of anemia and optimizing coagulation while conserving our patients' own blood through multidisciplinary team efforts. Anemia affects one third of the world's population, making it a major global health concern. Integrating PBM into clinicians' practices has been shown to reduce the inappropriate use of allogeneic blood transfusions and improves the quality and safety of patient care. Transfusion has been the default therapy to address bleeding and anemia, but is associated with numerous serious risks and, unfortunately, worsens patient outcomes in many cases. Optimizing our patients' own blood health while carefully applying evidence-based practices when transfusions are indicated leads to better clinical and financial outcomes for our patients and health systems.

Anemia is critical to manage in high-risk populations where it significantly impacts outcomes, including the critically ill, as well as obstetric (OB), and surgical patients.  In critically ill patients, anemia often leads to increased transfusions, which carry risks like infection and poor oxygen delivery. In OB patients, untreated anemia contributes to maternal morbidity and complications such as hemorrhage and delayed recovery. For surgical patients, optimizing preoperative hemoglobin and minimizing blood loss reduces transfusions, shortens hospital stays, and improves recovery. Targeted anemia management in these groups enhances patient safety, outcomes, and quality of care.

Course Director: 
Roger Royster, MD, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
Peter Miller, MD, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
William Miles, MD, Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center.

Point of Contact: Laura.Yau@atriumhealth.org

Overall Objectives:

1. Distinguish patients with anemia prior to high blood loss, non-emergent surgeries.
2. Analyze the impact of untreated anemia on surgical outcomes and patient safety.
3. Apply evidence-based guidelines for the appropriate use of blood components in clinical practice.
4. Incorporate strategies to optimize hemoglobin levels in anemic patients before surgery.
5. Distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate transfusion practices, including single-unit transfusion strategies.
6. Utilize tools and protocols to standardize anemia management and transfusion practices.
7. Counsel peers and staff on the latest evidence for anemia treatment and blood component administration.
8. Evaluate patient cases to determine the need for interventions such as intravenous iron or hematopoietic stimulants.
9. Integrate Patient Blood Management (PBM) principles into both inpatient and outpatient care settings.

Target Audience:  
This activity is designed for physicians, nurses, physician associates and other healthcare professionals.

Accreditation Statement

In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Advocate Health and hc1+Accumen. Advocate Health is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center
                                       (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare.

Credit Statement(s)

American Medical Association (AMA) 
Advocate Health designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) 
Advocate Health designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.50 ANCC contact hours. Nurses should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA)
Advocate Health has been authorized by the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 1.50 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

Board Recognition Statement(s)
Successful completion of this CME activity enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME requirement of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.