Improving Patient Care

Patients are a driving force behind ASH’s mission. ASH continued advancing progress in hematology research, training, and clinical care with a clear focus on improving patient outcomes and enhancing the lives of those living with blood disorders. These efforts included work to improve quality of care, enhance the scientific understanding of blood disorders, and advocate for hematology on the Hill.

2024 ASH Annual Report

Quality Improvement and Evidence-Based Science

The quality of care delivered in health systems has a direct impact on health outcomes, so ASH has developed various resources, awards, and programs to help clinicians make evidence-based decisions and improve the health care system.

This year, ASH selected 24 institutions to participate in the Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) by Duffy Status Project, which will redefine pediatric and adult ANC reference ranges by Duffy status. People with DANC are often labeled as having neutropenia, which can lead to unnecessary, expensive, and invasive testing; adoption of these new reference ranges will help prevent that. Following a request from ASH, the National Center for Health Statistics’ ICD-10-CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee established new ICD-10 Z codes, which will allow clinicians to code Duffy status into electronic health records to enable accurate documentation. New ASH educational offerings around the Duffy null phenotype will launch in 2025.

ASH’s portfolio of clinical practice guidelines continues to grow, with new guidelines initiated on amyloidosis, aplastic anemia, dosing and monitoring of hydroxyurea for sickle cell disease, myelofibrosis, and iron deficiency in 2024. In addition, updates are underway for guidelines on pediatric venous thromboembolism, acute myeloid leukemia in older adults, and immune thrombocytopenia.

Toolkit for Clinical Trial Sponsors

ASH convened a group to develop recommendations that help expand access to clinical trials participation. An abstract presented at the 2024 ASH Annual Meeting and corresponding manuscript published in Blood Advances have actionable recommendations developed from this work.

Read the Blood Advances Article

CAR-T Toxicities Consortium

This group unites investigators from scientific and medical associations, government agencies, and registries to address emerging toxicities associated with the application of CAR T-cell therapies.

Learn about the Consortium

Quality Improvement Champions

ASH recognized the efforts of three clinicians who implemented intervention-based projects through the Quality Improvement Champions award in 2024.

See the 2024 Champions

Bringing Hematology to the Hill

175+

visits to congressional leaders

1,700

letter to Capitol Hill

Throughout 2024, ASH continued to serve the hematology community on the Hill and within the halls of government offices. Among many activities, ASH advocated for continued funding to the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, among others.

ASH’s advocacy efforts made an impact. Early in 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services made a national coverage determination to allow for allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for myelodysplastic syndromes. ASH officers were invited to the White House and discussed maternal health and hematology, including the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in women. This work continues with plans for an Iron Deficiency Summit at ASH in 2025.

Read more about ASH’s efforts in the 2024 end of year advocacy report.

Advocacy Leadership Institute

Twenty-five ASH members from across the United States learned how to be effective advocates and met with nearly 50 congressional offices in 2024.

Read about ALI

ASH/FDA Collaboration

ASH hosted 20 participants at the third annual ASH/FDA workshop, which educated ASH members on regulatory science in hematology.

Learn about ASH/FDA Workshop

ASH Congressional Fellowship

Shakira Grant, MBBS, MSCR, served as the 2023-2024 ASH Congressional Fellow. This program provides a unique opportunity for hematologists to work in a congressional office and help shape health care policy.

See Program Details