Elevating Blood Donation Education with Virtual Patients
Body Interact, in collaboration with HOSA and the American Blood Center, hosted a webinar titled “Elevating Blood Donation Education with Virtual Patients” on October 24, 2024. During the event, Jeff Gohringer and Kevin Shipley highlighted the significant challenges facing blood systems worldwide.
In July 2024, the American Red Cross declared an emergency blood shortage after a national blood inventory drop of over 25%, leading to urgent appeals for donors, especially those with type O blood, essential for trauma care.
How to address the global blood crisis?
Experts from Harvard Medical School discussed innovative strategies to combat the global blood crisis in a recent article. Their recommendations include immediate actions to improve blood accessibility while working on long-term solutions. A new global initiative has also been launched to tackle critical blood shortages, particularly in rural areas.
One innovative strategy targets changing how society perceives blood donation and transfusion—and how students are educated on these topics. Due to a widespread lack of understanding about the importance of blood donation and its science, the “Vein-to-Vein” program leverages Body Interact’s virtual patient technology to close this gap.
An educational alliance with an impact on society
This program enables students to engage in clinical simulations that mimic real-life scenarios where blood transfusions are vital. Through these cases, students not only learn the science behind blood donation but also develop critical thinking, leadership, and empathy for patient care.
Aligned with high school biology and health science standards, the program is adaptable to students’ varying knowledge levels, from introductory to advanced. Teachers can use these interactive simulations to foster essential teamwork, decision-making, and healthcare skills—vital for inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Students can practice handling cases such as:
- Acute anemia in sickle cell disease
- Acute myeloid leukemia
- Crushing injuries
- Hemolytic anemia
- Hemorrhagic shock
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit cases
- Postpartum hemorrhage
- Severe anemia
- Thalassemia
- Trauma injuries
By combining traditional learning with innovative digital tools, Vein-to-Vein empowers students to understand and support the nation’s blood supply.
The program not only deepens their knowledge of blood donation but also encourages them to consider careers in healthcare and take on leadership roles in community blood donation efforts. Educators can further connect with local blood centers, integrating community engagement into the learning
