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Bloodless Medicine & Surgery Program

Bloodless Medicine & Surgery Program
Meriter Hospital
202 S. Park Street
Madison, WI 53715

In the Madison area, call (608) 417-6259
Outside Madison, call 1-800-236-2367

Offering Patients More Choices

For more than a century, Meriter has pioneered medical advances that make a lifesaving difference. Today, patients and physicians share a growing interest in minimizing blood loss and maximizing the oxygen-carrying capabilities of blood, thereby reducing the need for blood transfusions and other blood products. That's the reason why Meriter Hospital created a Bloodless Medicine and Surgery Program, Wisconsin's first coordinated Bloodless Medicine and Surgery program.

Some people choose bloodless medicine and surgery programs because of deeply held religious beliefs. And an increasing number of people are choosing such programs to reduce the possibility of blood-borne illnesses - such as hepatitis or HIV infection - or other adverse reactions.

Whatever the reason, Meriter makes sure to honor this choice throughout the patient's stay. Meriter has brought together a skilled team of physicians, surgeons, nurses, technical and support staff that is committed to meeting the needs of patients who wish blood conservation and bloodless care.

Broad Range of Medical and Surgical Specialties

Whether you enter the hospital for an emergency, schedule an outpatient procedure or require coronary bypass surgery, bloodless care is available to you. The following medical and surgical specialties provide blood conservation and bloodless care services at Meriter:

  • Anesthesiology
  • Cardiology
  • Cardiac Surgery
  • Ear, Nose and Throat (limited services)
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Family Practice
  • Gastroenterology
  • General Surgery
  • Gynecology
  • Hematology
  • Internal Medicine
  • Interventional Radiology
  • Nephrology
  • Neurology
  • Obstetrics (limited services)
  • Oncology
  • Orthopedic Surgery
  • Pediatrics and Neonatology
  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Thoracic Surgery
  • Urology (limited services)
  • Vascular Surgery

Advanced Bloodless Technology

In their daily practice, Meriter's Bloodless Medicine and Surgery staff uses many different techniques for blood conservation.
  • Argon Beam Coagulators - helps minimize blood loss during surgery.
  • Cauterizing Techniques - controls bleeding during surgery.
  • Cell Saver - a blood recycling machine that collects blood shed during surgery, washes it in saline and returns it to the patient.
  • Hemodilution - draws off some of the patient's blood into blood bags and replaces it with an intravenous fluid. The blood is given back during surgery to maintain blood volume.
  • Lasers - surgical devices such as YAG, CO2 and KTP lasers can be used to clot vessels during surgery to minimize blood loss.
  • Minimally Invasive Surgical Techniques - surgery that uses endoscopic equipment and smaller incisions.
  • Synthetic Erythropoietin - this genetically engineered hormone medication is identical to the natural hormone that kidneys produce to stimulatethe body to produce more red blood cells.
  • Volume Expanders - intravenous fluids that increase the volume of the patient's own blood.

We Coordinate Your Care 24 Hours A Day

Meriter Hospital's Bloodless Medicine and Surgery medical team will follow your requests without compromise. A coordinator is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to help you and your family with:
  • Referrals to participating physicians
  • Outpatient services
  • Assuring that your needs are understood and accommodated during your hospital stay

Emergency Care

Meriter Hospital will make every attempt to match Bloodless Medicine and Surgery patients with a participating provider for emergency care. Since emergency care at our hospital is provided by a common pool of physicians on a rotation schedule, we cannot guarantee a participating physician in every emergency case.

Treating Minors

State and federal laws may impose limitations on Meriter's ability to withhold or withdraw blood transfusions or blood therapy from minors, particularly in life-threatening situations. Meriter's Bloodless Medicine and Surgery Program and all participating physicians must follow the law and, therefore, must reserve the right to undertake any and all steps and legal proceedings necessary under the law.

Please speak with your physician or Meriter's program coordinator in advance if you are considering bloodless measures in the care and treatment of a minor.

For More Information

If you need more information or would like to schedule an appointment, be sure to request Bloodless Medicine and Surgery when you call Meriter Hospital; a receptionist will connect you directly to a bloodless medicine and surgery coordinator.

In the Madison area, call (608) 417-6259

Outside the Madison area, call toll free at 1-800-236-2367

1/13/2006