Haematologia 14. (1981)
1981 / 1. szám - Hollán, S. R.: Editorial. Training of blood transfusion teams
Haematologia 14 (l),pp. 3—7 (19SI) Editorial Training of Blood Transfusion Teams* Susan R. Hollán National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Budapest, Hungary (Received May 12, 1980) 1. Training of the staff of Blood Transfusion Centres (BTC-s) and postgraduate teaching of clinicians represent a core problem in establishing an efficient National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS.) 2. The teaching programme should be adapted to the basic function of the BTS. 3. The training programme should give the staff theoretical basis and technical skill to ensure that the BTC can provide the region with whole blood, blood cell concentrates and plasma fractions of guaranteed biological activity. 4. It should demonstrate in practice the importance of a close contact between BTC-s and clinical units. 5. The lack of experts in developing countries is one of the most important limiting factor in the development of their NBTS. Since haematology and immunology overlap and intersect with blood transfusion, the best solution is to train physicians in blood transfusion, haematology and immunology in a combined specialist’s training scheme. This type of training renders specialists who are not merely heads of “bottling factories”, but who in addition to their high level work in blood transfusion will be well versed in two other specialities both indispensable in modern clinical diagnostics and therapy and in the fight against population diseases. * Training of the staff of blood transfusion centres and postgraduate teaching of clinicians represent a core problem in establishing an efficient National Blood Transfusion Service. A regular house-staff and professional staff continuing education programme is indispensable even in the most advanced Blood Transfusion Centres (BTC). This is also of paramount importance in developing countries where the shortage of trained personnel represents the main limiting factor in the development of their NBTS-s. The aims, trends and scopes of the training programmes have to be adapted 1) to the peculiar aspect of transfusion therapy: to the interaction between the donor and the recipient, and 2) to the basic functions of the BTS. This latter comprises: — collection and distribution of blood, — application of laboratory tests, — advice on clinical usage, — training and teaching, and — research and development. * Abridged version of a paper presented at the ISBT Symposium on Blood Transfusion and Immunohaematology held at Brasilia (Brazil), February 11-15, 1980.