Blood Conservation Program
Conserving blood is best way to go
For years, blood transfusions have been an accepted part of medical practice in hospitals. However, over the past decade, medical research has shown there can be significant risks associated with blood transfusions.
Modern medical practice indicates the role of blood transfusions should change, cautioning healthcare providers to be very conservative with this method of treatment. Chronic blood shortages, rising blood costs, and fear of transfusion-related risks have sparked growing interest in alternatives to exposure to donor blood transfusions.
“If you think about it, it makes sense to question the safety of giving a patient a blood transfusion,” says BMH pathologist Brad Collins, MD. “You are introducing a foreign substance into the body, and the natural reaction is for the body to reject it.”
Collins goes on to explain that sometimes giving a patient a blood transfusion is indicated, but modern medical practice shows that many times there are better alternatives to giving a patient a blood transfusion. “Ultimately, we are looking to improve patient outcomes through medically-sound blood conservation,” he says.
| Effective Blood Management Strategies: |
For elective surgical patients and patients facing potential acute blood loss. Ask your doctor if any of these treatments are right for you.
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As we learn more about problems associated with blood transfusions, hospitals across the nation are rethinking their blood use policies. Recently, Beaufort Memorial Hospital joined a host of medical leaders such as Duke, Cleveland Clinic and Johns Hopkins in partnering with an organization called HemoConcepts. The goal is to develop a successful, hospital-based blood conservation program, resulting in better outcomes for patients.
“In the interest of patient safety, we don’t take giving a patient a blood transfusion lightly,” Dr. Collins explains. “We need to weigh the benefits against the potential harm. Sometimes a blood transfusion is the best thing to do for a patient, but we are finding that, many times, patients do better with alternative treatments, eliminating the need for a transfusion.”
Working with Dr. Collins on integrating the blood conservation approach is Theresa Pratt, RN, Beaufort Memorial’s Blood Conservation Coordinator. Her job is to work closely with doctors, nurses and patients to educate them on alternatives to blood transfusions. “Education plays a significant role, in the success of the program.”
“It really is a patient safety issue,” says Pratt, who has worked in nursing for the past 32 years. “I have learned so much since taking this job,” she continues. “Beaufort Memorial has made a real commitment to becoming a blood conservation hospital through this partnership with HemoConcepts. “I received intense specialized training in blood conservation at the Bloodless Medicine and Surgery Institute at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, and I am passing on that education to our staff”. “The key to success is full organizational integration.”
According to Pratt, many hospitals use some blood management methods – some in the Emergency Department, some in Surgery, and some on the patient floors, and they may reduce blood use somewhat, but the real success is to implement every strategy across the entire organization. The benefits are exponential.
For more information on Beaufort Memorial being a blood conservation hospital, contact the Blood Conservation Coordinator at 522-5293, or visit www.hemoconcepts.com. Our donor room hours are every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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