This week, Aultman Lab Services recognizes Patient Blood Management (PBM) Awareness Week – a time to share how healthcare teams are working to use blood more wisely and safely, while helping patients recover faster and feel more in control of their care.

According to the Society for the Advancement of Blood Management (SABM), PBM is a patient-centered, evidence-based approach that focuses on preserving your own blood and improving outcomes. It means doing everything possible to avoid unnecessary transfusions and support your body’s natural ability to heal.

Whether you're preparing for surgery, undergoing cancer treatment or facing a medical emergency, PBM helps ensure that blood transfusions are only used when truly needed – and that your own blood is protected all along the way.

Why It Matters

Donated blood is a precious resource. PBM helps reduce the need for donor blood by:

• Detecting and treating anemia early
  
  
• Using careful surgical techniques to prevent blood loss
  
  
• Reusing your own blood during surgery when possible
  
  
• Managing medications and clotting issues to avoid complications

These efforts not only reduce reliance on donated blood, but they also help you recover faster, experience fewer side effects and feel more confident in your care.

What You Can Do as a Patient

You have a voice in your treatment. If you're scheduled for a procedure or facing a condition that might involve blood loss, ask your healthcare provider how to optimize your blood health. You can discuss options like:

• Treating anemia before surgery
  
  
• Reviewing the medications and supplements you are taking that could affect your blood's ability to clot
  
  
• Considering additional therapies that can improve your blood health without transfusion

When patients are informed and involved, outcomes improve and care becomes better tailored to the patient's needs.

During PBM Awareness Week, we encourage patients, families and healthcare professionals to learn more about this approach. By working together, we can improve recovery, reduce costs and make smarter choices about blood use.

Source:
Society for the Advancement of Blood Management. (2018). Administrative and clinical standards for patient blood management programs (4th ed.).