[traumanurses] Re: Crossmatch for Trauma Patients

["Leiding, Lisa" <Lisa.Leiding@stvin.org>]

Basically we draw one blood tube and have to hand label it with patient name, MR#, DOB, date of service, drawers initials and time.

We however release 4-O negs to the ED in the meantime - in a cooler or in a paper box with dry ice. If we do not use them they are returned to the blood bank and can be used again. If we use them we document on a blood bank form that lists the 4 product numbers who the patient turned out to be (assuming we know)and the blood bank does the rest of the tracking.

No issues with our blood drawing process or the hand labeling of the samples.

Our issue is that we have to wait about an hour for platelets to arrive - as we don't keep them. We use them so infrequently that it hasn't been a large issue.

Lisa McLaughlin
Santa Fe, NM
505-820-5708

-----Original Message-----
From: Hotz, Heidi, RN [mailto:Heidi.Hotz@cshs.org]
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2003 9:33 AM
To: 'traumanurses@mailman.listserve.com'
Subject: [traumanurses] Crossmatch for Trauma Patients

Hello All!

I would like to know what other trauma centers policy and procedure is for
crossmatching for trauma patients, e.g., are you required to draw 2 blood
specimens on one trauma patient at 2 different times? Would you be willing
to share your P&P? Please share you comments on the effectiveness of your
P&P.

We are being asked to draw 2 specimens at 2 separate intervals on the same
patient. Our concern is that this will delay the administration of
crossmatched blood as well as deplete our stores of O negative/positive
blood.

I appreciate your feedback.

Thanks,

Heidi Hotz, RN, Trauma Program Manager
Department of Surgery
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles

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