Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) in Philadelphia announced today the addition of a Bloodless Medicine and Surgery Program for those oncology patients seeking optimal medical care without receiving a blood transfusion and/or blood products.
Predominantly popular among patients in the Jehovah’s Witness community, a bloodless medicine program requires hospitals to implement comprehensive safety measures and a patient tracking system before, during and after surgery.
“While CTCA Philadelphia has historically implemented these practices, we are excited to formally launch this program for optimal integration and operationalization with our multidisciplinary care team,” says Steven Standiford, MD, surgical oncologist at CTCA Philadelphia. “Respecting the rights, needs and beliefs of our patients is paramount throughout the treatment process, and a key part of how we empower and partner with our patients in their treatment plan.”
In addition to improving patient outcomes and enhancing the overall patient experience, bloodless medicine programs have been shown to reduce hospital cost, infection risks and length of stay.
The program also involves intervention from support services such as nutritional therapy for optimizing a patient’s diet for the natural production of blood cells. All patients at CTCA undergo a full nutritional evaluation by a board-certified specialist in oncology nutrition to check for signs of malnutrition and address nutritional deficiencies. For patients in the bloodless medicine program, there is a specific focus on supporting the body with the nutrients - such as B vitamins - required to produce new blood cells.
CTCA Philadelphia recently earned two prestigious national designations in nursing excellence and patient experience including the Magnet designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the highest national honor for nursing excellence; and Press Ganey’s Pinnacle of Excellence Award for at least three consecutive years of consistently high levels of excellence in patient experience.
For more information about the Bloodless Medicine and Surgery Program at CTCA visit cancercenter.com/bloodless-medicine.