Hello,

in the CRI service, on 11 Long and 14 Long, patients admitted to the hematology-oncology service require a blood consent form to be filled out.   This form is usually filled out on the day ofadmission and filed in their physical chart. The form used is form #mz-1912Z, called "transfusion information form and consent for blood transfusion"

However, on the rest of the services, (11 Moffit, 14 Moffit, ICU), the only form accepted for blood transfusions is a different form, labeled "authorization for special diagnostic or therapeutic procedure, blood transfusion, and administration of anesthetics."

One of these forms (#mz-1912Z), must be signed in the presence of patient, physician, and witnessed by an RN.  Therefore, all three parties must be available and present to obtain this consent, and at times it can be difficult to coordinate this.

It is common that patients sign one form on admission, then when they require urgent blood transfusion, it ends up being delayed by several hours.  The blood often times ends up being returned to the blood bank,  because once it arrives, the RN notices that the incorrect form has been signed by the patient and the physician.  She then pages the MD to return and fill out the other form, which, toggles back and forth between services.  If the physician is not immediately able to attend to this, it is possible that the blood products must be returned to the blood bank before their expiration time.  

This results in the waste of blood products, the waste of several physicians and nurses time, and inefficiencies in health care due to redundant, obstructive paperwork.  Lastly, it may be dangerous to delay life-saving transfusions to patients whom are thrombocytopenic and at risk for bleeding, or severely anemic.

I would like to propose that one and only one form be approved for all services and floors, therefore reducing waste and improving patient safety.