Lets Talk Patient Blood Management

Sarah Walbolt

Patient Blood Management (PBM) is the standard of care everyone should discuss, but few do. Sarah is a leading implementation specialist in PBM and brings awareness to improving and managing blood health. Whether you are a trained medical professional or a healthcare consumer, this podcast will raise awareness and expand your knowledge, enabling you to make more informed healthcare decisions.

  1. Jun 1

    Half Dose Platelets, Full Dose Impact: Rethinking “Just in Case” Transfusions

    In this episode of Let’s Talk Patient Blood Management, we dig into one of the boldest platelet stewardship moves in recent years: cutting prophylactic platelet doses in halffor cancer patients without increasing bleeding. Lead author Christine Cahill and Dr. Majed Refaai explain why platelets are overused, always in short supply, and far from a benign therapy. They walk us through how arbitrarythresholds like ‘hemoglobin 10’ and ‘platelets 50’ became ingrained, and what happened when their team at the University of Rochester implemented half‑dose plateletsin the real world, and why many ‘just in case’ transfusions may never have been needed in the first place. We cover: Why platelets are prothrombotic and proinflammatoryHow 'just in case' transfusions can lead to refractoriness and no compatible units availableBlood Inventory pressures of a level 1 trauma center, and triaging platelets to those who truly need themReal-world outcomes when platelet volumes are cut in half If you have ever ordered one unit just to feel better about a lab value, then this conversation will challenge how you think about prophylactic transfusion, safety, dose, and indication. Read Article Here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42087249/ Visit Let's Talk PBM Website: https://letstalkpbm.com/ Music Created with SUNO

    42 min

  2. May 15

    Advancing the Impossible: Bloodless Organ Transplantation with Drs. Jeevanandam and Sanchez

    What if the future of heart and lung transplantation is using little to no donor blood at all?In this powerful episode of Let's Talk Patient Blood Management, Sarah Walbolt and Christine Cahill sit down with pioneering transplant surgeons Dr. Valluvan Jeevanandam and Dr. Pablo Sanchez from the University of Chicago Medicine to explore how their team is redefining what’s possible in modern surgery.These surgeons are performing some of the highest-risk operations in medicine — including heart transplants and double lung transplants — while dramatically reducing or eliminating the need for blood transfusion.In this episode:• How bloodless transplant surgery became possible• Why minimizing transfusion may improve patient outcomes• The culture, precision, and teamwork required behind the scenes• What most hospitals still misunderstand about transfusion-free care• Why patients travel from around the world seeking this expertise• The role of Patient Blood Management in the future of surgeryDr. Jeevanandam shares the deeply personal story that sparked his passion for reducing surgical bleeding, while Dr. Sanchez explains the meticulous surgical strategies that make these complex operations possible.This conversation goes far beyond transfusion medicine. It’s about innovation, surgical excellence, patient-centered care, and challenging long-held assumptions in healthcare.Whether you are a clinician, surgeon, perfusionist, nurse, healthcare leader, or simply fascinated by the future of medicine, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.Visit our website: https://letstalkpbm.com/

    32 min

  3. May 1

    High‑Stakes Heart Surgery: How Bloodless Care Changes the Game with Dr. Michael Moront.

    Dr. Michael Moront has spent over 30 years masteringbloodless cardiac surgery, saving lives where others see only impossibility. In this episode, he reveals the transformative power of patient blood management and how viscoelastic testing revolutionized his practice, reducing re-operationrates from 6.5% to 2.3% and significantly lowering six-month mortality. Discover how thromboelastography and targeted bloodconservation strategies turn the impossible into routine. Dr. Moront shares detailed frameworks like "dry in, dry out" and how proactive preoperative optimization, innovative technologies, and team synergy make bloodless surgery safer, more effective, and increasingly standard. You'lllearn why meticulous technique, real-time data, and collaboration between surgeons, anesthesiologists, and perfusionists are key to avoiding transfusions, controlling bleeding, and improving patient outcomes across disciplines.   This episode also explores the broader impact of bloodless medicine, how it has driven innovations in minimally invasive technologies, pharmacologic innovations, and hospital protocols, paving the way for universal, patient-centered care. Dr.Moront emphasizes that neglecting these advancements risks missed opportunities and poorer patient results. Gain insight into the future of personalized bloodmanagement research and how hospital leadership can champion these practices to elevate care standards regionally and nationally. Ideal for clinicians, hospital administrators, and health-conscious patients alike, this conversation highlights the future of surgery, where precision, innovation, and respect for patient choices create new frontiers in medicine.  This is your front-row seat to the future of safer, smarter, and more compassionate surgical care. Visit our Website to learn more about our work and partners. www.letstalkpbm.com

    35 min

  4. Apr 1

    Before You Give: Making an Informed Choice About Blood Donation with Joel Addams, MD

    Not all blood donations are the same, andnot every donor experience is straightforward. In this episode, we lean on the expertise of Joel Addams,MD, MA, FCAP, Medical Director of Clinical Pathology, to walk through what reallyhappens before, during, and after you donate blood. From the questions you’ll be asked to why you might be turned away, we unpack the critical differences between screening and testing, what ensures the safety of the blood supply, and where ethics come into play. But this conversation goes further. Through the lens of Patient Blood Management, wechallenge the assumption that donating blood is always a simple “yes”—and instead explore how donors and clinicians alike can make informed, thoughtful decisions. Because this isn’t just about giving blood.It’s about understanding it. Have a story or concern about blood donation ethics? Shareit in the comments. We’re listening and may feature it in a future episode.

    34 min

  5. Mar 4

    Decoding Your Blood's Unique Fingerprint with Dr. Caroline Alquist

    In this episode, MaryAnn and Dr. Caroline Alquist delve intothe complexities of HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) and its critical role in patient blood management. They discuss how HLA serves as a genetic fingerprint that influences transfusion outcomes, the importance of avoiding unnecessarytransfusions, and the ethical considerations surrounding blood donation. Theconversation also highlights advancements in HLA testing technology and thesignificance of donor diversity in improving blood health, particularly for minority communities. Dr. Alquist emphasizes the need for patient advocacy and understanding of HLA testing to ensure better health outcomes. Takeaways:  HLA is crucial for understanding immune responses intransfusions. Transfusion-related immunomodulation (TRIM) can affectpatient outcomes. Avoiding unnecessary transfusions is a key goal in patientblood management. HLA typing is essential for patients requiring specializedtransfusions. Increasing donor diversity is vital for matching patientseffectively. Virtual cross-matching technology enhances organ allocationefficiency. HLA typing can predict patient responses to certainmedications. Blood is a limited resource, and careful management isessential. Let's Talk PBM Website:https://letstalkpbm.com/ Check out Dr. Alquist's podcast here: https://youtu.be/QUzsbEG1k-w?si=MLFCYT8zuFVRneKW

    22 min

  6. Feb 4

    A Disease Ignored and the Woman Who Wouldn’t Be

    In this episode, Syreeta Wright, author, patient advocate, and true warrior, shares what it’s like to live with sickle cell. From the excruciating crises, losing the ability to walk, fighting to avoid donor blood, and the medical trauma incurred as a child. She speaks plainly about feeling violated when her choices were overridden, and how that experience stillaffects her life. Syreeta explains why sickle cell is not a “Black disease,” how that harmful label helped justify neglect, and why research and resources are still far behind where they should be. She also shows how patient blood management and bloodless medicine became her path; building her own blood, using alternatives, and becoming an exceptionally informed patient who refuses to accept “standard care” without questions. Syreeta creates a children’s book series to help kids see themselves as warriors, not victims. If you’re a patient, parent, grandparent, clinician, or anyone who has ever felt ignored by the medical system, this conversation will challenge, educate, and inspire you to advocate fiercely for your own body.   🔗 Check out Syreeta’schannel and her “World Warrior” songs here:https://www.youtube.com/@WelcomeToTheWorldWarrior   Let's Talk PBM Website: https://letstalkpbm.com/ Music: Iron and Grace – Music provided by SUNO AI No Copyright. Bent but Unbroken-Music by Syreeta Wright AI-generated. No Copyright

    43 min
  7. Rethinking “Routine” Blood Transfusions with IVO Beverina, MD

    Jan 7

    Rethinking “Routine” Blood Transfusions with IVO Beverina, MD

    What if one of the most common hospital treatments is quietly putting patients at risk? In this powerful conversation, internationally recognized transfusion specialist Dr. Ivo Beverina reveals the uncomfortable truth about blood transfusions, how outdated habits continue to drive medical decisions, and the very real risks patients face when blood is overused. From emergency departments overwhelmed with anemic patients to hospitals that reduced plasma use by 90% simply by changing culture and education, this episode exposes the systemic challenges and the extraordinary opportunities inside modern healthcare. You’ll discover: Why blood is used when safer, more effective options existThe hidden dangers of transfusions that most patients never hear about How anemia can be treated without defaulting to bloodThe role nurses play in Patient Blood ManagementWhy healthcare transformation starts with education, data, and teamworkIf you are a patient, clinician, nurse, leader, or advocate, this conversation will change how you see transfusion forever.  Because the right care isn’t always more blood. It’s better medicine. Let's Talk PBM Website : https://letstalkpbm.com/ Read Medical Articles: A Synchronized Approach between emergency department and anemia clinic to intravenous iron treatment for very severe (Hb 7.0 g/dL) and extreme (5.0 g/dL) iron-deficiency anemia: short-, medium- and long-term efficacyand safety analysis   Efficacyof a strict surveillance policy towards inappropriateness of plasma transfusion Song: Your Blood Your Health - Music provided by SUNO AI No Copyright Music.Link

    35 min

  8. 12/03/2025

    From Normal Pregnancy to Near Danger | Maria's Struggle to Be Heard

    In this conversation, Maria Silvestri shares her personal journey during her pregnancy and discusses the challenges of advocating for herself within the healthcare system. The discussion highlights the importance of patient education, awareness of blood health, and the need for better management of anemia and iron levels during pregnancy. Maria emphasizes the significance of being proactive in healthcare and utilizing available resources to ensure optimal health for both mother and baby, especially as she prepares for the postpartum period.Let's Talk PBM Websitehttps://letstalkpbm.com/Song: DayFox - In The NowMusic provided by Vlog No Copyright Music.Video Link: • DayFox - In The Now (Vlog No Copyright Music) #anytimemusic8809

    34 min
See All (45)

4.6
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Patient Blood Management (PBM) is the standard of care everyone should discuss, but few do. Sarah is a leading implementation specialist in PBM and brings awareness to improving and managing blood health. Whether you are a trained medical professional or a healthcare consumer, this podcast will raise awareness and expand your knowledge, enabling you to make more informed healthcare decisions.

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