Matching International “Twins” to Transform the Field

By J. Wade Atkins, MS, MT(ASCP)SBB, CQA(ASQ)

AABB Contributing Writer

In the medical community, “twinning” — the matching of interested facilities to exchange knowledge and information — is a way to provide technical assistance in transfusion medicine, cellular and related biological therapies on a global scale, a key objective of the AABB strategic plan. AABB currently serves as a technical assistance provider through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Several of its members also already informally twin with — or in some way assist — blood collection and transfusion organizations in emerging nations (see example, page 11). With the recent approval by the board of directors of a new pilot project, AABB — through its Administrative Section Coordinating Committee — will be able to formalize and increase its support of twinning activities.

Mission and Goals

The mission of the AABB International Twinning Program is to improve patient care internationally by building local sustainable blood banking communities through the exchange of knowledge and practices in the field among AABB members and organizations in emerging nations.

The fundamental goal of the program is to provide an organized system to match interested professionals or facilities in the field from emerging nations with AABB members with similar interests and relevant technical expertise.

Benefits and Experience

The potential benefits for those involved in twinning include improving patient care through collaboration, such as sharing best practices; global networking; identification of potentially innovative research opportunities; and the opportunity to learn about foreign cultures.

This concept is not new; AABB has active and emerging relationships with a number of regional professional societies, which together represent large parts of Africa, China and Latin America.

A Need Recognized by Many

The need for this type of global assistance and partnership in blood banking is further supported by the results of a biannual survey conducted by the World Health Organization that assesses the status of blood safety around the world. Survey responses from its 192 member countries continue to document the need for assistance in nearly all aspects of blood safety — from donor recruitment to clinical practice and legislative policy to basic funding and organizational structure. The survey data demonstrate that regular blood supply shortages — which are exacerbated by stringent donor selection criteria — are contributing to shrinking pools of suitable blood donors. Further stressing existing systems in developing nations is the growing need for blood and the challenging basic societal infrastructure (e.g., electricity, educational systems, roads).

The World Health Organization has expressed interest in working collaboratively with AABB and its members to provide assistance to emerging nations in the area of blood safety. This program, with appropriate funding, would help WHO in its efforts to meet the United Nations Millennium goals to reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, and combat HIV and AIDS. In harmony with initiatives of international organizations — including WHO and the Pan American Health Organization — and in collaboration with efforts of the American Society for Clinical Pathology, twinning activities on an enhanced level may eventually include the following:

·          Exchange of information on an ongoing basis via telephone, e-mail or other method. Training to pass on knowledge and skills that may occur on-site or via exchange visits.

·          Working together on specific projects.

·          Equipment sharing.

·          Technical and medical donor operations, including activities involving the collection, processing, storage, and transportation of blood and tissue products.

·          Technical and medical transfusion operations, including activities involving safe administration of blood and tissue products.

·          Information technology as it applies to communication, data capture and transfer, electronic support, and other information management systems.

·          Quality management and administrative activities involving personnel, procurement, records, equipment management, facility management, facility safety, process improvement, internal and external auditing, and organization.

Application Process and Logistics

Individuals or organizations interested in participating in the AABB International Twinning Program would complete an application of interest and submit it to the ASCC for review and potential partnering with an AABB member that has expressed interest in sharing expertise in similar areas of interest (e.g., quality management, information technology). Appropriate forms and application materials — both electronic and paper-based — will be developed for this purpose.

Matched facilities will be asked to develop a twinning plan with specific goals, activities, deadlines and budgets for consideration from a designated twinning fund of AABB.

The twinning program is expected to be budget-neutral to AABB, financed through grants or from other third-party sources. Some of the funds may be used to help AABB recover indirect costs of the program. The twinning plans — which will exist for a fixed period of time but could be eligible for renewal — are expected to include assessment and exploratory trips between the paired organizations as well as activities that would facilitate the exchange of knowledge between them (e.g., lectures, training sessions, general consultations).

A fully operational program would identify and fund up to five sets of twins annually, each with a defined lifetime of up to three years, with the possibility for extension or renewal. Twinned organizations would work in a collaborative manner, with each benefiting from the shared knowledge and experience of working together. Twinning work plans between facilities will be developed to include specific goals and related activities, budgets, and timelines.

Oversight and Direction

The plan for governance of this new initiative calls for AABB to provide broad strategic oversight and monitor the program for fiscal responsibility. The ASCC will offer direction to AABB staff to establish program operating policies and to help ensure that the program is administered in accordance with those policies. The ASCC will routinely report to the board of directors on the program’s activities and seek appropriate direction. Day-to-day administration of the program will be performed by AABB staff. Progress toward established twinning plan goals will be monitored and summarized in regular reports to the ASCC and the board.

Individual or institutional members interested in participating in the twinning program should contact ASCC and AABB staff by e-mail at jreilly@aabb.org.