A professor and vice chair for clinical research at Stony Brook School of Medicine, Dr. Elliott Bennett-Guerrero also serves as medical director of perioperative quality and patient safety in the Department of Anesthesiology. In his leadership role with the university, Dr. Elliott Bennett-Guerrero focuses a portion of his research on the safety and effectiveness of blood transfusions.

1. PRINCIPLES OF
BLOOD TRANSFUSION
SAFETY
Elliott Bennett-Guerrero

2. Introduction
 A professor and vice chair for clinical research at
Stony Brook School of Medicine, Dr. Elliott
Bennett-Guerrero also serves as medical director
of perioperative quality and patient safety in the
Department of Anesthesiology. In his leadership
role with the university, Dr. Elliott Bennett-
Guerrero focuses a portion of his research on the
safety and effectiveness of blood transfusions.
When it comes to blood-transfusion safety,
positive patient identification represents one of the
most important safety protocols. At all stages of
the process, healthcare providers should ask for
the patient’s full name and date of birth.

3. Blood Transfusion Safety
 Furthermore, all paperwork involving the patient
must have all information identical, complete with
the patient’s unique identification number.
All prospective donors must be asked a
comprehensive set of screening questions to
determine risk factors for blood transfusion.
Recent travel to high-risk countries or a history of
intravenous drug use are some of the factors that
may exclude a prospective donor. After the blood
is collected, it must be tested in the laboratory for
blood-borne pathogens, such as HIV, hepatitis B
and C, bacterial contamination, and more.