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Health Care Services

American Red Cross BloodHub

American Red Cross BloodHub logo

Product description

The cloud-based computer portal American Red Cross Connect/Blood Hub is used to replace the paper-based ordering system for when the VA Boston Healthcare System Blood Bank needs to order blood products, Antibody workups from local or national reference lab, Molecular Testing, or HLA tested products from the American Red Cross. Once approved for use it will shorten turnaround time and reduce clerical errors over the backup phone method of ordering blood products and paper method of ordering patient sample testing. The portal will also be used to deliver the workup results from the reference lab allowing the Blood Bank to have a copy of the final report as soon as it is approved by the ARC reference lab supervisor instead of waiting for it to come in the mail.

How we use American Red Cross BloodHub at VA

The ARC Blood Hub program with be used by the Blood Bank staff (who have been registered on the site) to order blood products for transfusion to patients. The services that require patient information to be entered include samples sent to the ARC reference laboratory for antibody identification, samples for HLA, Molecular testing, and National Reference Lab.

A contract with the American Red Cross for the services outlined in the use case. Red Cross will then provide user names and passwords for access to BloodHub.

No VA Data

For SaaS products that do not contain VA-owned data*, there is now an expedited process that does not require a traditional VA authority to operate (ATO). Criteria include the following:

  • User owns a device (even if VA paid for the purchase of the device) such as a CPAP or glucometer that uses a SaaS product to share patient data (non-VA data*).
  • SaaS product has no direct connections or interfaces to VA systems or network.
  • Users consent to share their data (which may include PII and PHI) directly with the SaaS provider.
  • SaaS providers must have published terms and conditions for user consent.
  • VA providers access data in a view-only mode or with limited functionality per the user’s consent.

*According to Circular a130, anything that VA creates, collects, processes, maintains, disseminates, or disposes of by or for the federal government is considered federal information (VA data).

VA providers may not enter any VA information into this product; it must adhere to no VA data standards mentioned above.

The next step

If VA employees would like to use or purchase this previously approved service, please submit a SaaS inquiry form to confirm your use case and get procurement approval.

Submit a Request