Transfusion Camp for nurse practitioners 2023 - 2024

Transfusion Camp for nurse practitioners is a 3-module education program aimed at increasing knowledge of transfusion medicine and best practices by providing high-quality transfusion training. Materials are prepared by a multidisciplinary transfusion expert team in British Columbia from content developed for Transfusion Camp for post-graduate medical trainees by transfusion experts at the University of Toronto.

How is Transfusion Camp for nurse practitioners delivered?

• Transfusion Camp content is delivered over 3 modules.
• Each module includes pre-recorded lectures and problem-based learning tutorials (seminars).

When and where do I attend Transfusion Camp?

• Learners attend Transfusion Camp through their local leads with the help of a local program coordinator and faculties.
• Local program coordinators send email reminders to registered learners prior to each module to confirm date, time and location. Consult with your local program coordinator for assistance. The downloadable 2023 - 2024 schedule and location document contains information on how the Camp will be delivered at each site.

How do I get the most out of Transfusion Camp?

• Complete the pre and post Transfusion Camp tests (delivered electronically).
• Read the pre-reading publications
• Watch the pre-recorded module lectures before attending the module's seminar session.
• Attend and actively participate in the problem-based learning seminars. A guide for participating in the seminars is provided below.
• Refrain from excessive use of interruption devices (mobile phones).
• Arrange not to be on call/service the nights before; and the days of the seminars.
• Complete evaluations.
• Come back to this course portal to review materials as needed, including the recorded lectures.
• The Transfusion Camp materials are ​provided for educational purposes only. They are not intended to be a substitute for the advice of an authorized prescriber and should be assessed in the context of the applicable medic​al, legal and ethical requirements in any individual case.

How do I provide feedback about Transfusion Camp?

• For feedback related to Transfusion Camp, please complete the survey via the LearningHub.
• For feedback related to this course portal, please contact transfusioncamp@blood.ca.

What is the impact of Transfusion Camp on transfusion practice?

• Learners complete a pre- and a post-exam to evaluate the knowledge gained through attending Transfusion Camp.
• Read our peer-reviewed publication.

What topics are covered by Transfusion Camp?

The topics covered for 2023 - 2024 Transfusion Camp are detailed in the collapsible sections below and in the downloadable Program Brochure.

Module 1 overview

Pre-course exam (delivered electronically)
Lecture 1: Red cell transfusion (Dr. Jeannie Callum) 
Lecture 2: Basic blood bank testing (Dr. Yulia Lin)
Lecture 3: Platelet transfusion (Dr. Katerina Pavenski)
Lecture 4: Plasma, PCC & fibrinogen concentrate (Dr. Aditi Khandelwal)
Seminar 1A: RBC and platelet transfusions Cases
Seminar 1B: Plasma, PCC & fibrinogen cases

Lectures

To view the lectures recordings on YouTube, open the video and click on the playlist icon in the top right-hand corner to select your lecture of interest. 

1.    Red cell transfusion (Dr. Jeannie Callum)

2.    Basic blood bank testing (Dr. Yulia Lin)

3.    Platelet transfusion (Dr. Katerina Pavenski)

4.   Plasma, PCC & fibrinogen concentrate (Dr. Aditi Khandelwal)

Module 1 key learnings

Pre-readings

1.    Franchini M, Marano G, Mengoli C, Pupella S, Vaglio S, Muñoz M, Liumbruno GM. Red blood cell transfusion policy: a critical literature review. Blood Transfus, 2017 Jul; 15(4):307-317. 

2.    Carson JL, Guyatt G, Heddle NM, Grossman BJ, Cohn CS, Fung MK, et al. Clinical practice guidelines from the AABB: Red blood cell transfusion thresholds and storage. JAMA. 2016 Nov 15;316(19):2025-35.

3.    Burns CD. Anemia and red blood cell transfusion in the adult non-bleeding patient. Ann Blood 2022;7:2.

4.    Kaufman RM, Djulbegovic B, Gernsheimer T, Kleinman S, Tinmouth AT, Capocelli KE, et al. Platelet transfusion: A clinical practice guideline from the AABB. Ann Intern Med. 2015 Feb 3;162(3):205-13.

5.    National Advisory Committee on Blood and Blood Products. NAC Statement on Fibrinogen Concentrate Working Group. 2020.

6.    National Advisory Committee on Blood and Blood Products. Recommendations for use of Prothrombin Complex Concentrates in Canada. 2022.

Seminars

Answers for the seminars are posted below once the Transfusion Camp module is completed.

Seminar 1A: RBC and platelet transfusions cases

Seminar 1B: Plasma, PCC & fibrinogen concentrate cases

Module 2 overview

Lecture 1:  Acute Non-infectious Reactions (Dr. Christine Cserti-Gazdewich)
Lecture 2:  Informed Consent (Dr. Marissa Laureano)
Lecture 3:  Alloimmunization & Anemia in Pregnancy (Dr. Nadine Shehata)
Lecture 4:  Pre-operative Patent Blood Management (Dr. Yulia Lin)
Seminar 2A: Transfusion Reactions
Seminar 2B: Consent and Patient Blood Management
Optional lecture:  Acute & Delayed Transfusion Transmitted Infections (Dr. Steven Drews)

Lectures

To view the lectures recordings on YouTube, open the video and click on the playlist icon in the top right-hand corner to select your lecture of interest.

1.    Acute non-infectious reactions (Dr. Christine Cserti-Gazdewich)

2.    Informed consent (Dr. Marissa Laureano)

3.    Alloimmunization & anemia in pregnancy (Dr. Nadine Shehata) 

4.    Pre-operative patient blood management (Dr. Yulia Lin)

Module 2 key learnings

Pre-readings

1.    Carson JL, Triulzi DJ, Ness PM. Indications for and Adverse Effects of Red-Cell Transfusion. N. ENGL J MED;377(13):1261-1278.

2.    AABB Quick Reference Guide: NHSN Hemovigilance Module; Adverse Reactions Definitions. 2021 MAR.

3.    Webb J, Delaney M. Red Blood Cell Alloimmunization in the Pregnant Patient. Transfus Med Rev. 2018 Jun;32:213-219.

4.    Richards T, Rao Baikady R, Clevenger B, Butcher A, Abeysiri S, Chau M, et al. Preoperative intravenous iron to treat anaemia before major abdominal surgery (PREVENTT):  randomized double-blind, controlled trial. Lancet. 2020; 396: 1353–61.

5.    Shah A, Palmer AJR, Klein AA. Strategies to minimize intraoperative blood loss during major surgery. BJS 2020; 107: e26-e38.

6.    Bulle EB, Klanderman RB, Pendergrast J, Cserti-Gazdewich C, Callum J, Vlaar APJ. The recipe for TACO: A narrative review on the pathophysiology and potential mitigation strategies of transfusion-associated circulatory overload. Blood Rev. 2021 Oct 2:100891. 

7.    TTISS-ON. Acute Transfusion Reaction Chart. 2020 OCT.

 8.    Lin, Y, Preoperative anemia screening clinics. Hematology. 2019 Dec 6, 2019(1): 570-576.

9.    ORBCON, Bloody Easy 5: Blood Transfusions, Blood Alternatives and Transfusion Reactions. A Guide to Transfusion Medicine, Chapter 5 Transfusion Reactions, fifth Edition Handbook, 2022. p. 40-79

The following readings are reference material only:

1.    Delaney M, Wendel S, Bercovitz RS, Cid J, Cohn C, Dunbar NM, et al. Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of transfusion reactions: Evidence-based review & clinical guidelines. Supplement to: Transfusion reactions: prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Lancet. 2016 Dec;388(10061):2825-2836.

 2.    Froessler B, Murphy E, Hodyl N. Iron deficiency in PREVENTT. Lancet. 2021 Feb 20;397(10275):668.

 3.    Thrombosis Canada. NOACS/DOACS: Management of bleeding. 2020 Apr. 6p.

 4.    Thrombosis Canada. NOACS/DOACS: Perioperative management of antiplatelet therapy. 2020 Apr. 5p.

Seminars

Answers for the seminars are posted below once the Transfusion Camp module is completed.

Seminar 2A: Transfusion Reactions

Seminar 2B: Consent and Patient Blood Management

Optional lecture to view on your own:

1.    Acute & Delayed Transfusion Transmitted Infections (Dr. Steven Drews)

Module 3 overview

Lecture 1: Congenital coag - bleeding history, VWD, hemophilia (Dr. Natasha Rupani)
Lecture 2: Reversal of antiplatelets & direct anticoagulants (Dr. Carolyn Elbaz)
Lecture 3: Massive hemorrhage: Pathophysiology & evidence-based management (Dr. Jeannie Callum)
Lecture 4: Massive hemorrhage protocol: Translation to the real world (Dr. Katerina Pavenski)
Seminar 3A: Bleeding Assessment and Anticoagulants/Antiplatelets
Seminar 3B: Massive Transfusion
Optional lecture:  Neonatal & pediatric transfusion (Dr. Lani Lieberman)
Post-course exam (delivered electronically)

Lectures

To view the lectures recordings on YouTube, open the video and click on the playlist icon in the top right-hand corner to select your lecture of interest.

1.    Congenital coag - bleeding history, VWD, hemophilia (Dr. Natasha Rupani)

2.    Reversal of antiplatelets & direct anticoagulants (Dr. Carolyn Elbaz)

3.    Massive hemorrhage: Pathophysiology & evidence-based management (Dr. Jeannie Callum)

4.   Massive Hemorrhage Protocol: Translation to the Real World (Dr. Katerina Pavenski)

Module 3 key learnings

Pre-readings

1.    Rydz A, James PD. Approach to the Diagnosis and Management of Common Bleeding Disorders. Semin Thromb Hemost. 2012. 

2.    Piran S, Schulman S. Treatment of bleeding complications in patients on anticoagulant therapy. Blood. 2019 Jan; 133(5); 425-435.

 3.    Elbaz C, Sholzberg M. An illustrated review of bleeding assessment tools and common coagulation tests. Res Pract Thromb Haemost. 2020;4:761–773. 

 4.    Thrombosis Canada. NOACS/DOACS: Coagulation tests. 2018 Nov. 5p

 5.    Thrombosis Canada. NOACS/DOACS: Perioperative management. 2019 Apr. 7p

 6.    Callum JL, Yeh CH, Petrosoniak A, McVey MJ, Cope S, et al. A regional massive hemorrhage protocol developed through a modified Delphi technique, CMAJ OPEN 2019; 7(3) :E546-E561.

7.    Callum J. Ontario’s top 10 recommendations for Massive Hemorrhage Protocol. CMAJ. 2019.

8.    ORBCON. Provincial recommendations for Massive Hemorrhage Protocol. 2019

Seminars

Answers for the seminars are posted below once the Transfusion Camp module is completed.

Seminar 3A: Perioperative Bleeding Assessment

Seminar 3B: Massive, Disaster Bleeding Cases

Optional Lecture to view on your own:

1.    Neonatal & pediatric transfusion (Dr. Lani Lieberman)

Module 1 - additional references

1.    Baharoglu M, Cordonnier C, Salman RAS, de Gans K, Koopman MM, Brand A, et al. Platelet transfusion versus standard care after acute stroke due to spontaneous cerebral haemorrhage associated with antiplatelet therapy (PATCH): a randomized, open-label, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2016 Jun 25;387(10038):2605-13.

Module 2 - additional resources

1.    Vossoughi SR, Mccauley R, Sazama K, Fung MK. Attitudes, Practices, and Training on Informed Consent for Transfusions and Procedures: A Survey of Medical Students and Physicians. Am J Clin Pathol. 2015 Aug;144:315-321.

2.    Ackfeld T, Schmutz T,  Guechi Y,  Le Terrier C. Blood Transfusion Reactions—A Comprehensive Review of the Literature including a Swiss Perspective. J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11, 2859.

3.    SickKids, Letter of Understanding – Jehovah’s Witness Patients and Blood Transfusion, Rev. 2007/01, 1 p.

Module 3 - additional references

 2.    ORBCON. Provincial recommendations for Massive Hemorrhage Protocol. 2019

Blood operator's virtual tours

Lectures:

1.    Virtual Héma-Québec tour (Dr. Catherine Latour)

2.    Virtual Canadian Blood Services tour (Dr. Michelle Zeller)

New updates in Transfusion

Lecture

1.    New updates in transfusion (Dr. Aditi Khandelwal)

Patient Blood Management

Lecture

1.    Intra-op Patient Blood Management: Tranexamic Acid, Salvage and Triggers (Dr. Keyvan Karkouti)

Inherited blood disorders

Lecture

1.    Sickle Cell Disease (Dr. Jacob Pendergast)

Key learnings for SCD

Reading references

1.    Arya S, Wilton P, Page D, Boma-Fischer L, Floris G, Winikoff R, Teitel J, Dainty K, Sholzberg M. “Everything was blood when it comes to me”: Understanding the lived experiences of women with inherited bleeding disorders. J Thromb Haemost. 2020;18:3211-3221. 

2.    Black L, Selby R, Brnjac E, Lin Y, Elbaz C, James P, et al. Bloody easy: Coagulations simplified. 2th ed. Ontario Regional Blood Coordinating Network;2019. 24p.  

 3.    Elbaz C, Sholzberg M. An illustrated review of bleeding assessment tools and common coagulation tests. Res Pract Thromb Haemost. 2020;4:761–773.

Albumin

Lecture

1.    Albumin (Dr. Justyna Bartoszko)

Key learnings for albumin

Reading reference

1. ORBCON. Ontario albumin administration recommendations. 2012.