Verehalduse

Verehalduse is a term used to describe the systematic management of blood and blood products across the healthcare continuum. It encompasses the collection of donor blood, testing and processing, storage, inventory management, distribution, and the clinical use of blood components, with a focus on safety, availability, and cost efficiency. In many contexts the concept overlaps with patient blood management, transfusion medicine, and hemovigilance.

The field involves establishing standards and protocols for donor recruitment and retention, infectious disease screening, component separation, cold chain maintenance, and traceability. It also includes clinical decision support, transfusion guidelines, and education aimed at minimizing unnecessary transfusions and optimizing patient outcomes. Effective verehalduse relies on coordinated workflows among blood services, hospitals, and laboratories, as well as information systems that track supply, demand, and adverse events.

Governance and history: verehalduse programs are overseen by national health authorities and dedicated blood services, guided by international recommendations from organizations such as the World Health Organization and professional bodies like the AABB. The modern emphasis on practices related to verehalduse, particularly patient blood management, gained prominence in the late 20th and early 21st centuries as a means to improve safety, reduce exposure to donor blood, and reduce costs.

Impact and challenges: verehalduse aims to balance supply and demand, prevent shortages and waste, and ensure equitable access to blood products. Key considerations include ethical procurement, donor safety, regulatory compliance, cost containment, and maintaining resilience of the blood supply during emergencies. Related terms include hemovigilance, transfusion medicine, and patient blood management.