MultiCare Health System

• Transfusion Free Medical and Surgical Program
  • Patient Benefits
  • Participating Hospitals and Physicians
   
 

Patient Benefits

• The commitment of the hospital staff to provide high-quality medical and surgical care with respect for a patient’s informed decision not to use blood products
• Administrative and staff support of the patient’s wish to avoid a blood transfusion and the physician’s commitment to the patient’s health care choice
• Pre-determined practice guidelines and clinical pathways
• Scientifically sound practices to minimize blood loss
• On-going education on developments in bloodless medicine and surgery for staff, physicians, patients, and the community

• Reduced risk associated with blood transfusions
• Minimized suppression of the immune system
• Potential to decrease patient length of stay and reduce infectious complications
• Respect for patient preferences

• Blood conservation techniques are used when collecting blood specimens for analytic testing to dramatically reduce the amount of blood drawn.
• Intra-operative blood salvage (cell saver) and Hemodilution collects, cleans, and returns the patient’s own blood to them during surgery
• Electrocautery, harmonic scalpel, and laser technology devices are used during surgery to control bleeding
• Synthetic erythropoietin (EPO) stimulates bone marrow to produce red blood cells
• Medications are given to increase the patient's blood volume