Baptist Health celebrates 25 years of Bloodless Medicine and Surgery
The region’s only Bloodless Medicine Program marks a quarter century of patient-centered innovation.
Baptist Health is proud to celebrate 25 years of Bloodless Medicine and Surgery, marking a milestone that began at Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville in 2001 and has grown into a high-tech program spanning every hospital and specialty across the Baptist Health system.
What started as a visionary commitment to patient choice, clinical excellence and compassionate care has become one of the leading blood management programs in the United States, and the only program of its kind in Northeast Florida.
“Our Bloodless Medicine and Surgery Program reflects the best qualities of our organization: honoring patient choice, advancing clinical excellence and providing individualized, respectful care,” said Nicole B. Thomas, FACHE, president of Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville. “The entire Bloodless Medicine team, both past and present, has strengthened our organization and touched countless lives through their dedication, expertise and compassion over the past 25 years.”
On average, Baptist Health provides bloodless medicine services to 1,000 adults and children annually.
What is bloodless medicine?
Bloodless Medicine and Surgery is an approach to medical care that uses evidence-based, nonblood alternatives to support patients who decline transfusions. “Some patients make these decisions because of their faith while others make them for personal, cultural or medical reasons,” said Juliann Gaus-Graeser, coordinator of the program at Baptist Health.
“No matter the patient’s reason, our goal is the same: to provide safe, respectful, individualized care using the best strategies available to optimize a patient’s own blood and minimize blood loss,” said Gaus-Graeser.
Baptist Health uses advanced techniques to manage and conserve a patient’s own blood. These include pre-surgical iron supplementation and erythropoietin (EPO) therapy to stimulate the body’s natural red blood cell production, minimally invasive surgical tools that cut and seal blood vessels simultaneously to reduce blood loss, and intraoperative blood salvage technology — known as “cell saver” — which collects, cleans and returns a patient’s own blood during a procedure.
While the program was originally developed to honor the religious beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses who decline blood transfusions based on their scriptural convictions, bloodless medicine today serves patients from all backgrounds and faiths who seek its proven clinical benefits.
Expanding access and expertise
As Baptist Health looks ahead, the program continues to advance. Virtual Bloodless Medicine consultations now allow patients to begin individualized care planning before hospital admission, creating a more coordinated and seamless experience from the very start. A standardized set of medical, surgical and nursing instructions ensures best practices are implemented consistently across all Baptist Health campuses from the moment a patient’s care begins. The health system has also established a network of Bloodless Medicine Champion physicians and nurses — dedicated clinical leaders who promote blood conservation principles and expand expertise across Baptist Health campuses. A dedicated staff resource page provides clinical tools, educational materials and guidance for coordinating with the Jehovah’s Witnesses Hospital Liaison Committee and community partners.
A team of more than 300
The program is supported by a professional staff of more than 300 physicians, surgeons and anesthesiologists, all trained in blood management principles. As members of the Society for the Advancement of Blood Management (SABM), these clinicians are committed to educating patients, supporting their choices and ensuring their wishes are fully respected throughout every stage of care.
Looking forward
As Baptist Health marks this 25-year milestone, leadership remains focused on expanding what patient-centered care can be — for Jehovah’s Witness patients, for patients with complex medical needs and for anyone who chooses the safety, precision and respect that bloodless medicine offers. “The practices championed by this team benefit patients who request bloodless care and elevate outcomes for all patients across our hospitals,” Thomas said.
To learn more about the program or explore options for bloodless medicine surgery, call 904.202.3460 or email Juliann Gaus-Graeser at bloodless@bmcjax.com.