title: [Changes in consumption of blood--the significance of resource related and economic factors].
abstract: During the period 1985 to 1991 there has been a marked change in consumption of blood, and at the National Hospital the number of transfusions decreased by 52% from 41,747 units. However, the number of admitted patients annually has remained unchanged and the patient pattern includes more complicated cases. We conclude that cost accounting, consumer-adapted reporting, vigilant follow-up and an active transfusion committee are important factors for the changes in blood consumption. Furthermore, the professional attitude towards surgical blood conservation techniques and modern haemotherapy have been consolidated at the hospital concerned.
authors.affiliation: Transfusjonsutvalget, Rikshospitalet, Oslo.
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Solheim
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leivestad
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Hanssen
mesh_terms: D016913:Blood Component Transfusion / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D017046:Cost Savings; D006801:Humans; D009664:Norway