A comparative labor productivity analysis of blood collection centers

BACKGROUND: Blood center labor benchmarking data may be helpful to optimize staffing and to establish productivity targets. Data were gathered and labor productivity was analyzed among blood donor centers of different sizes collecting different product mixes. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Blood collection volumes and blood center labor data were obtained from eight blood centers: six regional centers, one mobile collection operation, and our hospital-affiliated center. A total of 2004 annual whole-blood (WB) collections and apheresis platelet (PLT) collections were captured. Full-time equivalents (FTEs) associated with blood collection operations were captured. With these data total unit (WB + PLT) collection rates per FTE were calculated. To compare value associated with each center's total unit collections, an indexed monetary value was assigned to WB and PLT and the value was calculated. RESULTS: Despite a 12-fold range in the size of operations, there was a strong correlation between total annual products collected and number of FTEs (mean 460 +/- 39 units/FTE). As expected, centers that collected relatively more PLTs had higher value per total unit collected. Surprisingly, however, there was no relationship between proportion of PLTs collected and total units collected per FTE. Centers collecting proportionately more PLTs therefore had higher value per FTE. CONCLUSION: A benchmark scale of labor productivity among blood donor centers of different sizes and product mixes was established. Product mix is not a major determinant of total unit collections per FTE but is an important determinant of value per FTE. Correlating collection targets with benchmark data from this survey may help determine optimal blood center labor allocation strategies.