American Red Cross Expands Agreement for Strategic Blood Management Services from Strategic Healthcare Group LLC

INDIANAPOLIS, October 15/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Strategic Healthcare Group LLC announced today a significant expansion in its agreement with the American Red Cross to provide Strategic Blood Management™ consultation services to over 100 American Red Cross client hospitals across the United States. This broadened agreement follows highly successful Strategic Blood Management™ program implementations at the University of Alabama Birmingham Hospital and Baptist Hospital in Pensacola, Florida. "We are very pleased to further our relationship with Strategic Healthcare Group," said Scott Buker, Director of National Accounts, Biomedical Services, American Red Cross. "Their Strategic Blood Management™ system brings tremendous value to hospital clients of the American Red Cross by promoting the appropriate use of blood products. As hospitals use blood more wisely they benefit from more efficient operations as well as improved care and patient safety. Strategic Healthcare Group has become an important partner in our ongoing efforts to promote appropriate blood use."

"We are very appreciative that the American Red Cross has chosen us as their partner to help promote the optimal use of blood," said Timothy Hannon, MD, MBA, President and CEO of Strategic Healthcare Group. "The changing healthcare environment is forcing every hospital in the country that transfuses patients to do its best to manage blood use. Our Strategic Blood Management™ system is an evidence-based, data-driven, and systems-oriented approach with a proven track record for hospitals and hospital systems of varying size and complexity."

According to Dr. Richard Benjamin, Chief Medical Officer of the American Red Cross Biomedical Services, evidence-based utilization of blood products is essential to the organization's mission as a steward of the nation's blood supply. "Strategic Blood Management™ focuses on the appropriate utilization of blood products, which the American Red Cross strongly supports. This approach is consistent with our mission to provide the best possible service to our client hospitals and optimal outcomes for their patients."

Rising blood costs, intermittent blood shortages and quality of care concerns are encouraging blood centers and hospitals to find more efficient ways to manage blood products. The Strategic Blood Management™ system consists of a suite of products that helps hospitals improve blood utilization while reducing the cost of care. The Strategic Blood Management™ system includes BloodStat™ blood utilization benchmarking reports, Strategic Blood Management™ program implementation and support services, and the Blood eManagement™ learning suite.

About Strategic Healthcare Group LLC

Strategic Healthcare Group is the leading provider of blood management products and solutions, partnering with the U.S. blood collection industry and forward thinking healthcare systems. Hospitals using the Strategic Blood Management™ system have reported reductions in blood utilization from 11% to 37% with cumulative cost savings in excess of $50 million through the reduction in unnecessary transfusions while improving patient care and increasing patient safety.