Proactively caring for your blood health.

Your blood connects every vital organ in our body. Blood carries oxygen to your brain and heart, removes wastes, carries hormones, minerals, and gases, helps repair damaged blood vessels, and is an important part of your immune system to fight infection. If your blood health is poor, your overall health can be affected.

WHAT IS ANEMIA?

Red blood cells contain an iron-rich protein called hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to all organs and tissues in your body. Low hemoglobin is called anemia. Symptoms of anemia include:
• Tiredness
• Weakness
• Shortness of breath
• Pale or yellowish skin
• Irregular heartbeat
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Chest pain
• Cold hands and feet
• Headaches

WHAT CAUSES ANEMIA?

Anemia has many causes. Your body may not produce enough red blood cells or abnormally destroys your red blood cells. You may be experiencing blood loss. Conditions that can lead to anemia include:
• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• Pregnancy
• Ulcers
• Colon polyps
• Inherited disorders
• A diet low in iron, folic acid, or vitamin B12
• Blood disorders such as sickle cell disease and thalassemia
• Cancer
• Aplastic anemia

HOW DOES THE ANEMIA CENTER TREAT ANEMIA?

Traditionally, severe anemia is treated with blood transfusions. At the Anemia Center we strive to treat anemia proactively, before it becomes severe, and prevent the need for a blood transfusion.

How? A doctor will collect your health history and then order blood tests. These obtain your hemoglobin level and check for deficiencies in levels of iron, folate, and vitamin B-12 (your body needs all of these to make new red blood cells). Your doctor may prescribe oral or intravenous iron therapy, vitamin B12, or folate if you
are low.

In some cases, your doctor may recommend medications called erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESAs) to stimulate your body to produce more red blood cells. If your anemia is more complicated, we will make a referral to a hematologist, a blood disorders specialist. Our Anemia Center doctors will communicate with your primary doctor to ensure a smooth transition of care.

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THE ANEMIA CENTER?

Patients with chronic anemia seeking to increase their red blood cell levels prior to a procedure or surgery, pregnant patients with iron deficiency, and anyone seeking evaluation and treatment for their anemia can call for an appointment. For some patients, blood transfusion is never an option. This can be due to medical, religious, or other personal reasons. As an example, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not accept blood transfusions, but they do seek quality medical care often called Bloodless Medicine. If you are anemic and would like to receive medical treatment without the use of blood transfusions, the Anemia Center can help. Our doctors can help diagnose the underlying cause of your anemia and recommend a treatment plan that is right for you.

WHAT IS PATIENT BLOOD MANAGEMENT?

Patient Blood Management is a patient centered, systematic, evidence-based approach focused on diagnosis and treatment of the underlying causes of patients’ anemia, treating coagulopathy, minimizing blood loss throughout the entire hospitalization, and optimizing the patient specific physiological tolerance of anemia. In 2021 the World Health Organization published an urgent call to action for health care entities to implement Patient Blood Management. MSLC is responding to this call. Our goal is to respectfully manage and preserve a patient’s own blood while promoting patient safety and improving outcomes.

For patients: No referrals are required if you have an existing diagnosis of anemia or iron deficiency. To schedule an appointment please call (845) 458-4000. Press 2 for scheduling, then press 2 for the Anemia Center.

For providers: If you would like to refer a patient to the Anemia Center, please fax a script to (845) 458-4420.

Questions:
Please contact Melissa Poland, RN, BSN, CVRN-BC, Clinical Coordinator of Bloodless Medicine & Patient Blood Management at mpoland@montefioreslc.org or call (845) 490-4011.