RBDM – Communiqué 7

A Finished Framework

Since the last Communiqué, the first edition of the Risk-Based Decision-Making (RBDM) Framework has reached its final form. The content of the framework has just undergone an intensive round of revisions based on the feedback drawn from stakeholder consultation, from a feasibility test, and from the recommendations of the Steering Committee. The finalized framework document with the most complete and up-to-date content is now available online at the ABO website.

The framework is being converted into an interactive, multimedia tool that will also be available on the ABO website. This approach will permit the user to define a unique path through the content, creating a tailored approach to the decision-making process; this online tool should be ready for use by August 2015.

The Framework in Action

The finished framework has already been applied to some risk issues; for example, since the last communiqué the AABB Board asked the RBDM project team to help them use the framework to advance their deliberations on babesia screening. A small working group conducted some of the early steps of the framework, relating to issue characterization, to bring to the full Board at its January meeting. In the words of AABB President Lynne Uhl, “we had a lively and educational discussion on Risk-Based Decision Making, or RBDM, for Blood Safety… In this exciting session, all AABB board members had the opportunity to run through the critical thinking process needed to engage in effective RBDM strategies and prepare outcomes to address Babesia screening concerns.” Following the Board session, an AABB working group led by Dr. Lou Katz has continued to work on this issue using the concepts in the RBDM framework. Various ABO organizations have also targeted certain risk issues to which they will apply the framework process.

Moving Forward

In order to promote blood sector uptake of the framework, ensure its continuous improvement, and to foster integration of the framework with the approaches of other participants in the blood sector, an ongoing Risk-Based Decision-Making Working Group will be created under Alliance of Blood Operators governance. This working group’s activities will include developing an awareness-building strategy for the framework, including a series of presentations for key industry events; facilitating the use of the framework with case studies, workshops and other measures; and monitoring the impact of the framework on blood safety decision making with an eye to its continued improvement.

In the coming months, there will be an RBDM poster presentation at the International Society of Blood Transfusion conference in London in late June 2015, and an AABB education session on using the framework in October 2015.

Questions about the project or suggestions about how we can better communicate with you can be directed to the RBDM project team.