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The Blood Conservation Program is a comprehensive patient service that minimizes the use of blood from blood banks, an increasingly scarce resource, and honors requests by patients who do not wish to receive transfusions of donor blood. Our goal is to ensure access to high-quality medical and surgical care while respecting patients’ personal or religious convictions.

The importance of Blood Conservation:
Blood conservation techniques have been demonstrated to decrease the risk of contracting blood-borne infections, of developing transfusion reactions, and of suppressing a patient's own immune system. Also, in some cases, religious beliefs may prohibit receiving blood transfusions.

The Blood Conservation Program:

• promotes patient choice in using blood products
• minimizes blood loss during surgery
• avoids the risk of infectious diseases, such as HIV and hepatitis
• is accepted throughout many religious communities
• eliminates surgery delays due to blood shortages.

Blood Conservation can be available in the following Services for all age groups:
Anesthesia
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Cardiovascular Surgery & Perfusion     
Oncology
Colorectal Surgery                                           
Orthopedics
Emergency Medicine                           
Otolaryngology (ear, nose, throat)
Family Practice 
Plastic Surgery
Gastroenterology
Radiology
General Surgery                                               
Thoracic Surgery
Neurosurgery                                      
Urology
Vascular Surgery

Blood conservation techniques involve a variety of medicines to increase the production of red blood cells, boost blood volume, reduce bleeding and enhance blood clotting.  Surgical devices, such as lasers, argon beam coagulator and electrocautery, help reduce bleeding during surgery.  Additionally, specialized equipment can be used to salvage and return blood lost during surgery. 

Blood Conservation Order Sets
Physician Participation Agreement

Scheduling Pre-Surgical Patient Outpatient Day Clinic Visits
Call: 718-2860 to schedule appointment

Information needed at time of scheduling:
1) Patient Name:
2) Date of Birth:
3) Reason for Visit: (EPO/IV Iron)
4) Number & Frequency of Visit(s)
5) Date Surgery/Procedure scheduled
6) For IV Iron will need height & target Hgb. (actual and/or target Hgb must be >12mg/dL.)
7) Current H&P
8) Medication List
9) Other appointments scheduled (or needed: lab, PT, pre-op education, etc )

For more information, contact Glenda Livengood Program Manager;
Phone: 336-718-1777 or pager 336-721-5673

Additional links:
Society for the Advancement of Blood Management