Methodist Health System Services
Methodist Blood Conservation Program
Methodist Hospital and Methodist Women's Hospital are proud to be included in the small number of Nebraska hospitals to offer a Blood Conservation Program. Blood conservation is a comprehensive approach to patient care that reduces or eliminates the need for donor blood transfusions. Health benefits of a blood conservation program can include a reduced infection rate and shorter hospital stays.
Benefits of Blood Conservation
Working together, doctors, nurses and other hospital staff use specialized techniques and equipment to reduce blood loss and retain a patient's own blood during treatment. The health benefits of blood conservation include:
- Reduced complications (including reduced risk of infections, reactions, lowered immune response)
- Shorter hospital stays
- Less exposure to viruses
- Reduction in donor blood transfusions
A Team Approach
Blood conservation brings together the patient and a team of health care professionals to manage the patient’s blood needs before, during and after a hospital stay. Our program uses:
- State-of-the-art equipment, medication therapies and training
- Integrated, multidisciplinary team approach
- Proven technologies in place from pre-surgical planning through recovery
Blood Conservation Technologies
Methodist Hospital and Methodist Women's Hospital employ wide-ranging technologies that minimize blood loss while providing state-of-the-art care for our patients, including:
- Cell saver
Technology that captures and returns a patient's own blood during or after surgery. - Electrocautery
Surgical instruments that use high temperatures to seal vessels and stop bleeding during surgery. - Harmonic Scalpel
Surgical tool that uses sound waves to both cut tissue and seal vessels to minimize blood loss. - Acute Normovolemic Hemodilution
Process of removing a portion of an individual's red blood cells, then replacing them with volume-expanding intravenous (IV) fluids that dilute the blood in order to reduce the loss of red blood cells during surgery. - Hypotensive Anesthesia
Keeping a patient's blood pressure below normal during surgery to minimize blood loss. - Platelet Gel / Sealant
A sealant made from one's own blood, used in the area of a surgical incision to help in healing. - Skin Monitors
Devices that track the skin's oxygen levels during surgery.
Learn More
To learn more about the Methodist Blood Conservation Program, contact the program coordinator at (402) 354-3981.
