Patient Blood Management

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.Patient Blood Management (PBM) is an evidence-based approach used by clinicians to optimize a patient’s current medical condition in order to ensure successful recovery. Its main focus is on preventing anemia and/or blood loss, but it also involves investigating and treating anemia when present.
PBM uses different medical and surgical techniques to avoid the use of blood transfusions if possible. It is important to remember that PBM does not mean that patients are never transfused. Despite all the techniques designed to avoid transfusions, when a transfusion is needed there are protocols and guidelines to help physicians make appropriate transfusion decisions.
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This article was written by Nikky D’amour, RN, BSN, CEN, Director Patient Blood Management.
Getting Started in Patient Blood Management by James P. AuBuchon, MD, FCAP, FRCP(Edin); Kathleen Puca, MD, MT(ASCP)SBB, FCAP; Sunita Saxena, MD, MHA; Ira A. Shulman, MD, FCAP; and Jonathan H. Waters, MD (2011, AABB, 34 pages, ISBN 978-1-56395-828-1).
Waters, Jonathan H. Blood Management: Options for Better Patient Care, 1st Edition.
(©2014) AABB. Patient Blood Management. Available online at http://www.aabb.org/pbm/Pages/default.aspx. Accessed November 2015.