Transfusion Rate as a Quality Metric: Is Blood Conservation a Learnable Skill?

In a multicenter quality collaborative, increased attention to transfusion-related outcomes and blood conservation techniques, coincident with regular reporting and review of perioperative transfusion rates as a quality metric, was associated with a significant decrease in blood product utilization. These reductions were concurrent with significant improvement in most perioperative outcomes. This intervention was also safe, as it was not associated with any increases in mortality.