The goal of the Bloodless Medicine and Surgery Program at Forest Hills Hospital is to give you quality health care without the use of blood products. All our staff members are keenly concerned with respecting your right to refuse blood transfusions and blood products.

We encourage you to participate in and direct your health care as you work along with the team that will treat you. Therefore, we will provide education for you about the different methods we use in our bloodless program. In addition, you will be assisted with completing an advanced directive or healthcare proxy, if you have not already done so. Copies will be placed in your chart so all of your caregivers will be aware of your choices.

Services

• Non-blood alternatives for patients who refuse blood
• A full-time program director who may be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• Patient education
• Assistance with preparing advance directives, health care proxies and living wills

Services available for:

• General Surgery
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Vascular Surgery
• Bariatric Surgery
• Plastic Surgery
• Hematology
• Oncology
• General Medicine
• Urology
• Obstetrics/Gynecology
• Podiatry

Modalities that may used to prevent or limit the use of blood transfusions

• Minimally invasive procedures - fiber optic technology has made it possible for surgeries to be performed through surgical incisions no greater than one inch.
• Cell salvage - one of the most accepted techniques in blood conservation. Cell salvage technology processes and reinfuses blood shed during surgery.
• Harmonic scalpel - an ultrasonically activated instrument that allows surgeons to coagulate small and medium sized vessels. It also permits incisions with minimal tissue damage and minimal risk to the patient
• Hemodilution - involves the removal of a calculated number of units of the patients’ blood just prior to the anticipated significant surgical blood loss. After major blood loss has ceased and while still in the O.R., the autologous blood units are returned to the patient
• Erythropoietin (EPO) - a hormone that prevents or can help recovery from anemia. It is a natural human hormone, almost all of which is produced by the kidneys, that is responsible for the stimulation of red blood cell production
• Topical Hemostatic Agents - agents that are applied to the surgical site that stop or slow down bleeding such as sponges or gels.
• Pharmaceutical Hemostatic Agent - agents that are administered by injection in order to stop or slow down bleeding.

Benefits

• Patients avoid the potential for acquiring blood-borne illnesses such as hepatitis, HIV, West Nile virus and other illnesses.
• Patients avoid untoward effects of blood transfusions such as infection and transfusion reactions that may include kidney failure, anemia and heart failure.
• It has been documented that many patients have shorter hospital stays because they have not received blood and so have avoided associated risks.
• Patients are able to follow their religious and moral beliefs with dignity.

Director
Deborah H. Riddick, RN

Contact
(718) 830-1180