My - how things have changed since this thread started in 2011.
We no longer get a paper copy of the Dr's request - they now have to do electronic orders and we built several questions in that make them enter the justification for the transfusion.
We do require them to bring a photocopy of the signed page of the Transfusion Consent form every time they pick up a unit. That has lead to 100% compliance with the signed consent form being in the chart (now all scanned in electronically). Even in emergencies - they know to bring a small pickup slip with a patient demographic label on it.
For our Emergency Release form - we do eventually require patient demographics so we know who the unit went to. We can release without it, but require it later. As above (from mollyredone) if the patient was on the floor - we could enter electronically for uncrossmatched units because the patient will be in the computer. We are being pushed by the hospitalist physician's to give them uncrossmatched, Emergency Release blood too - very rarely I hope. The one time they thought we weren't "fast enough", we discovered that they did not even know that a STAT Type and Crossmatch takes about an hour and that there is no way to shorten the incubation time. We had to teach them the whole uncrossmatched, emergency release procedure and the correct way to request it and that they would have to sign the Emergency Release form as the requesting physician. We will have to see how that all goes, all of my techs know to offer "uncrossmatched" now if everyone is "excited" about the "blood is taking too long!!" In the past - Emergency Release only went to ER or OR and they were familiar with the procedure - the floor RNs had never even heard of it.
Might be worthwhile to find out why the "floors" suddenly need your Red tag units. May be a training issue. Good luck.