How Can PBM Grow?

In 1997 at the Worldwide Developer Conference, Steve Jobs faced a tough question from the audience. He had just returned to Apple as an advisor and was guiding sweeping changes at the company. His response was very sobering:

"You've got to start with the customer experience and work backwards to the technology. You can't start with the technology and try to figure out where you are going to try to sell it."

This statement encapsulates decades of challenges faced similarly by Patient Blood Management (PBM) and Bloodless Surgery. Despite being innovative and beneficial, these practices have not met the expectations of many hospitals, medical centers, organizations, or manufacturing investors. Although the term "Evidence-Based Practice" is widely used to support the existence of PBM in the medical arena, after a while, it can become a cliché, losing its strength or, worse, becoming a diversion from focusing on new concepts for PBM exposure and public awareness.

Apple realized that change does not always dishonor the achievements of the past; it just adds to its growth. I'm sure that many within the PBM family may not be open to change, and there is nothing wrong with that manner of thinking personally. But, similar to Apple, when you are responsible for a larger picture that may include billions of dollars and millions of people, you may need to have second thoughts.

Steve also mentioned this thought: "What incredible benefits can we give to the customer? Where can we take the customer? Not starting with let's sit down with the engineers and figure out what awesome technology we have and how we are going to market that." PBM has a wealth of doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals who are trying to figure out the awesome medical benefits of PBM but are not sure how they are going to market them. Same past as Apple, just a different industry.

Currently, there are many doors of introduction for PBM to market through, but it will take change to take advantage of past COVID-19 experiences, low blood donor interest, and critical blood availability globally.

Our team has increased social media awareness in areas of PBM. The concept of dealing with anemia through Patient Blood Management has increased our visibility through our post campaigns. Recently, we've created a connection between Sustainable Natural Energy Resources and the energy derived from blood. Anemia can cripple all other efforts if gone unchecked, emotionally, mentally, and financially.

Of course, these efforts to become mainstream would benefit from the strongest global partnerships. We feel so strongly about the benefits of blood management that we are not accepting donations from corporations and recommending those monies be directed to other nonprofit organizations. Public awareness growth and engagement are more valuable for better patient outcomes than a donation check with our name on it.

We welcome your thoughts, and better concepts than ours are always welcomed. But no matter who spearheads the most valuable initiative, we all must work harder and faster because time is not on our side.

See the Steve Jobs video.

https://youtu.be/oeqPrUmVz-o?si=xLjb_TYCzhJ5roNo