A critical blood shortage in the U.S. stems from logistics issues as much as from supply problems, according to WIRED, since no centralized database exists to track the availability and cost of blood products. Bloodbuy hopes to solve this issue. The Dallas-based startup offers a cloud-based platform for hospitals to shop online for blood.
Through the platform, blood banks enter data about their supplies — like expiration dates and prices — and hospitals log in to place orders, according to the report. Bloodbuy digitizes the blood ordering process, which was previously conducted by phone or even fax, according to the report.
After executing a successful pilot program with Houston-based Texas Medical Center's teaching hospitals in 2014, Bloodbuy launched its system nationwide. Boston-based Brigham and Women's Hospital reported savings of more than $100,000 during the first 45 days of using the platform, according to one study.
Bloodbuy's ultimate goal focuses on creating a forecasting model to predict and prevent shortages, reports WIRED.
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