http://www.wnep.com/Global/story.asp?S=3263773
Tuesday, April 26 5:04pm By Jill Garrett
Geisinger Offers Blood Conservation Program in Wyoming Valley
Geisinger Wyoming Valley offering its Blood Conservation Program to surgery patients.
It's a team of doctors, nurses, therapists and technicians work together to provide bloodless medicine and surgery. Working quickly without blood transfusions.
Dr. Alfred Casale, is Director of Cardiac Surgery at the Geisinger Hospital in Plains. He finds it great for patients concerned about the safety of the nation's blood supply.
Patients play an active role, often building up their blood count with iron supplements or medicine before surgery. "Once somebody has their blood count built up, it means minimizing blood loss in the operating room. Then salvaging any blood they do lose, we're left with trying to build your blood count back up, and we find that many times, doing these things in a coordinated way, avoids the use for transfusions completely," Casale says.
Joseph Gavlick of Swoyersville is among the first taking advantage of the program. "Anything that makes you feel better, you've got to like it, you have to like it. I really appreciate what he (Casale)did. He picked up a challenge on me - this was my second heart operation, and this wasn't my first," Gavlick insists.
He also can't wait to get back to his old routine,"I'm here, I'm here. I'm not going to be dancing yet, but I intend to."
For more information on the Blood Conservation Program you can call Geisinger at 1-800-275-6401.
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