Bone Marrow Transplant UBT Dramatically Reduces Safety Events

The 7th floor ACC Bone Marrow Transplant Unit (BMTU) Unit Based Team (UBT) project to improve specimen labeling has already resulted in a significant reduction in bone marrow biopsy-related safety events — from 11 in 2025 to 2 in a comparable span of 2026 — an 82% reduction!

Working together with ACC 5th floor Oncology Clinic, the BMT UBT has been refining this project since February 2025, using safety huddles, event debriefs, focused education, visual cues, and a strengthened procedural timeout to address the problem. The UBT developed a “timeout” that now includes verification that all specimen slides have accurate, complete, and legible patient identifiers before proceeding.

The project was recently recognized at the UMass Memorial Medical Center-wide Safety Briefing. This project gives SHARE members and their co-workers the confidence to know that they’re giving the best patient care possible. SHARE UBT Co-Sponsor Kellie Morton points out that “This new process gives these Medical Assistants added confidence in their skills, which enhances the wonderful care they give.”

Now a full-time SHARE Organizer, Kellie’s own previous experience in the Cancer Clinic keeps her focused on what matters most: “This project was especially important for our patients. This new process has helped to make sure these procedures do not have to be repeated, which causes added stress for patients . . . and staff!”