In 1950, under the leadership of the renowned anesthesiology professor Wu Jue, Zhongshan Hospital established its first blood bank. Initially managed by the anesthesiology department, the blood bank primarily focused on blood type testing, blood matching, and blood distribution. By the 1970s, due to its core responsibilities, it was integrated into the laboratory department. In 2007, following national regulations, an independent Blood Transfusion Department was officially established and recognized as a clinical department. This marked a significant milestone in our history. Over more than 70 years, from the early days of manual blood matching and distribution to today's advanced clinical, testing, and management functions, our department has evolved significantly. Our journey has been one of dedication and innovation, transitioning to complete automation and information integration. We now play a pivotal role in the medical, educational, and research endeavors of our hospital, aligning with the standards of a large-scale, comprehensive research hospital. Especially in the past ten years, under the leadership of the current director, Professor Rong Ruiming, the department has innovated and optimized its safety management model. Key positions have been established, including quality management, scientific research management, teaching management, equipment management, and consumables management. The department comprises 15 staff members, including 2 doctors and 6 master's degree holders. Our team includes 1 chief physician, 1 deputy chief technician, 2 attending physicians, 5 chief technicians, and 5 technicians, with 93% holding a bachelor's degree or higher. All operations within the Blood Transfusion Department are conducted in strict adherence to the "Regulations on the Management of Clinical Blood Use in Medical Institutions" promulgated by the Ministry of Health on August 1, 2012. This ensures the strengthening of clinical blood use management in medical institutions, promotes scientific and rational clinical blood use, protects blood resources, and ensures clinical blood safety and medical quality.
The main part of the department is located on the 2nd floor of Building 1 in the West Campus. Additionally, a blood matching and distribution point serving the cardiac and liver surgery operating rooms is set up on the 4th floor of Building 16 in the East Campus. The department boasts a blood transfusion laboratory spanning over 260 square meters. In 2008, the hospital introduced China's first blood-dedicated transportation track. The department is equipped with a comprehensive range of automated blood typing and matching analysis platforms, including the Bole IH1000, Diana WADIANA, and Orsendo AUTO. It also houses large equipment such as vertical laminar flow clean benches, biological safety cabinets, mobile ultraviolet disinfection vehicles, blood storage refrigerators, blood storage freezers, plasma thawing boxes, platelet storage boxes, water baths, and BASO centrifuges.
In 2017, the Xiamen Hospital of Zhongshan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University was opened. The Blood Transfusion Department adheres to the hospital motto of "rigorous, realistic, united, dedicated, innovative, and caring." By integrating the different blood use practices of Shanghai and Xiamen, the department established the blood use management system and procedures for the Xiamen Hospital. Notices were posted to implement the homogeneous management of Zhongshan Xiamen Hospital. During this period, we participated in the support work for the BRICS meeting, conducted various tests in an orderly manner, and provided a wide range of blood products.
The Blood Transfusion Department has always upheld "blood transfusion safety" as its core principle, with a focus on improving quality and service. All colleagues in the department embody the Zhongshan spirit of "everything for the patient," prioritizing quality, seeking development through excellence, and fostering collaboration both within and outside the hospital. By seizing development opportunities, consolidating our foundation, and embracing innovation, we aim to achieve new milestones. This dedication is especially significant given that blood transfusion medicine was recognized as a national second-level discipline in 2016.
