Informed consent

[MEVANS]

How does your facility document that the physician has provided informed consent? Our patients sign a consent form that meets all the requirements outlined by AABB but during a review for Joint Commission we were cited for not having documenation in the medical record that the physician provided the discussion.

Any ideas...

[PamD]

We use a form. The physician also notes in the progress notes that the benefits and risks of transfusion have been discussed with the parent/guardian.

[Lcsmrz]

I think the AABB has a book about informed consent

[tbostock]

We have a consent form. The form should state that all risks, benefits, and alternatives have been discussed between the physician and patient. Also that the patient has been offered the right to refuse blood products, and that the patient was given the opportunity to ask questions and have all questions answered. The form is then signed by the physician, patient, and a witness (usually the nurse). When the nurse brings the transfusion requisition to the Blood Bank, there is a "patient is ready" statement on it that the nurse signs that says that the IV is patent and saline is running, the blood consent is valid, vital signs have been documented, pre-meds have been given, etc. That way the nurse is taking responsibility for making sure it is there before the blood is given.