Pentagon defends blood-tracking system after criticism by federal investigators

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http://www.rawstory.com/2015/08/pentagon-defends-blood-tracking-system-after-criticism-by-federal-investigators/



U.S. MAJ. David R. King MD (2nd L), Chief of Surgical Services of 125 BSB Forward Surgical Team Task Force Mustang, in Forward Operating Base (FOB) Shank in Logar province, eastern Afghanistan in this November 13, 2011 file photo.

Pentagon defends blood-tracking system after criticism by federal investigators
Reuters
05 Aug 2015 at 18:55 ET

A U.S. Defense Department system for tracking and helping speed blood supplies to combat field hospitals does not work, threatening to cause blood shortages for wounded soldiers, according to a Defense Department Inspector General report.

The Theater Blood Application, introduced in 2011, is now in use at more than 249 sites, Defense Health Agency spokesman Kevin Dwyer said.

The Inspector General’s report, dated July 17, 2015, and released last week, said the system was built to faulty specifications. As a result, it said, the system does not meet basic needs for “a blood-tracking tool to ensure accurate blood inventory, patient safety, and deliver high quality products to support the warfighter.”

It recommended halting further spending on the project until the faults can be fixed.