Skip to Content
800-533-8762
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Health Care Professionals
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
UPMC
  • Find a Doctor
  • Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
      Allergy & Immunology Behavioral & Mental Health Cancer Ear, Nose & Throat Endocrinology Gastroenterology Heart & Vascular Imaging Neurosciences Orthopaedics
      Physical Rehabilitation Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Primary Care Senior Services Sports Medicine Telemedicine Transplant Surgery Walk-In Care Weight Management Women’s Health
      See all Services
    • Services by Region
    • Find a UPMC health care facility close to you quickly by browsing by region.
      UPMC in Western Pa. Western Pa. and New York
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Services
  • Locations
    • Locations by Type
    • Locations by Type
      UPMC hospitals
      Hospitals
      Physical Therapy
      Physical Therapy
      Urgent care
      Walk-In Care
      UPMC Outpatient Centers
      Outpatient Centers
      UPMC Imaging Services
      Imaging
      Community Health Centers
      Community Health Centers
      See All Locations
    • Locations by Region
    • Locations by Region
      UPMC in Southwest Pa. Southwest Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Northwest Pa and Ny. Northwest Pa. & Western N.Y.
      UPMC in West Central Pa. West Central Pa.
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Locations
  • Patients & Visitors
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
      Patients and Visitors Resources Pay a Bill Classes & Events Medical Records Health Library Patient Information
      Patient Portals Privacy Information Shared Decision Making Traveling Patients Visitor Information
      Man uses mobile phone
      Pay a Bill
      Nurse reviews medical chart
      Request Medical Records
  • Patient Portals
  • Find Covid-19 updates
  • Schedule an appointment
  • Request medical records
  • Pay a bill
  • Learn about financial assistance
  • Find classes & events
  • Send a patient an eCard
  • Make a donation
  • Volunteer
  • Read HealthBeat blog
  • Explore UPMC Careers
Skip to Content
UPMC
  • Patient Portals
  • For Patients & Visitors
    • Find a Doctor
    • Locations
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Services
    • More
      • Medical Records
      • Financial Assistance
      • Classes & Events
      • HealthBeat Blog
      • Health Library
  • About UPMC
    • Why UPMC
    • Facts & Stats
    • Supply Chain Management
    • Community Commitment
    • More
      • Financials
      • Support UPMC
      • UPMC Apps
      • UPMC Enterprises
      • UPMC International
  • For Health Care Professionals
    • Physician Information
    • Resources
    • Education & Training
    • Departments
    • Credentialing
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Newsroom
  • UPMC >
  • Our Services >
  • UPMC Patient Blood Management Program >
  • Frequently Asked Questions >
  • Patient Blood Management FAQ
UPMC Patient Blood Management Program
Strategies & Techniques
UPMC Bloodless Medicine and Surgery Services
Frequently Asked Questions
Patient Blood Management FAQ
Bloodless Medicine FAQ
Resources
Finding a Doctor
Our Experts
Wallet Card Holder
Contact Us
What's New
UPMC Patient Blood Management Program
Strategies & Techniques
UPMC Bloodless Medicine and Surgery Services
Frequently Asked Questions
Patient Blood Management FAQ
Bloodless Medicine FAQ
Resources
Finding a Doctor
Our Experts
Wallet Card Holder
Contact Us
What's New

Chat Keywords List

  • cancel or exit: Stops your conversation
  • start over: Restarts your current scenario
  • help: Shows what this bot can do
  • terms: Shows terms of use and privacy statement
  • feedback: Give us feedback
Continue
Chat with UPMC
RESTART
MENU
CLOSE

Patient Blood Management Frequently Asked Questions

Blood management is the appropriate provision and use of blood and its components and derivatives. It includes strategies to reduce or avoid the need for a blood transfusion.

For decades, doctors have been meeting the needs of patients who refuse blood transfusions. Recognizing certain benefits that these patients enjoyed, the field of blood management has developed over the past 10 years.

Blood management is associated with many benefits, such as:

  • Preserving the limited resource of donor blood.
  • Reducing health care costs.
  • Improving patient safety.
  • Reducing patients' length of stay in the hospital.
  • Reducing potential exposure to blood-borne disease.
  • Reducing the chances of hospital-acquired complications and infections.

The Center for Bloodless Medicine and Surgery at UPMC uses several patient blood management strategies and techniques.

  • Preoperative correction of anemia: The use of nutrition, iron, vitamins, and pharmaceutical agents often can address anemia in patients requiring elective surgery.
  • Intraoperative blood cell recovery and reinfusion: Blood lost during surgery can be captured, cleaned, and returned to the patient.
  • Hemodilution: Blood is removed during surgery, replaced with intravenous fluids, and returned to the patient with the goal of reducing or eliminating the need for transfusions.
  • Minimally invasive surgery and electrocautery: Smaller incisions and surgical instruments reduce blood loss.
  • Thrombin and adhesives: Human-derived and synthetic products reduce bleeding by supporting the body’s ability to clot.

Yes.

UPMC has a six-point blood management program that is being implemented at each of its hospitals, and UPMC physicians have been at the forefront of physician education in patient blood management.

For further information, call the Center for Bloodless Medicine and Surgery toll-free at 1-877-674-7111.

Contact Us

For more information about the Patient Blood Management Program at UPMC, please contact us at 1-877-674-7111.


What's New

Heart Transplant Without Blood Transfusion

During a recent virtual seminar, David James Kaczorowski, MD, who specializes in cardiothoracic transplantation, discussed expanded treatment options for heart transplant patients who cannot accept blood transfusions. For details, read the article, “Heart Transplant Without Blood Transfusion.”  If you would like to be kept up to date on future seminars, please submit your email address in the “Contact Us” tab.

Now Online: Our Release From Liability (RFL) Form

If you wish to refuse blood and/or blood products for a procedure, hospital stay, etc., you can save time by completing a Release From Liability for Failure to Administer Blood Transfusion Form (RFL) for Patients Who Decline Transfusions (PDF).

Are you pregnant or do you know someone who is?

Bloodless medicine solutions are available for expecting mothers who choose not to receive blood transfusions. Connect with a bloodless medicine advocate early in your pregnancy and learn about available options. Call 877-674-7111 to get started. 

UPMC
200 Lothrop Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213

412-647-8762 800-533-8762

Patients And Visitors
  • Find a Doctor
  • Locations
  • Pay a Bill
  • Patient & Visitor Resources
  • Disabilities Resource Center
  • Services
  • Medical Records
  • No Surprises Act
  • Price Transparency
  • Financial Assistance
  • Classes & Events
  • Health Library
Health Care Professionals
  • Physician Information
  • Resources
  • Education & Training
  • Departments
  • Credentialing
Newsroom
  • Newsroom Home
  • Inside Life Changing Medicine Blog
  • News Releases
About
  • Why UPMC
  • Facts & Stats
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Community Commitment
  • Financials
  • Supporting UPMC
  • HealthBeat Blog
  • UPMC Apps
  • UPMC Enterprises
  • UPMC Health Plan
  • UPMC International
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
Life changing is...
Follow UPMC
  • Contact Us
  • Website/Email Terms of Use
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Privacy Information
  • Active Privacy Alerts
  • Sitemap
© 2025 UPMC I Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit healthwise.org
Find Care
Providers
Video Visit
Portal Login