Between 2017 and 2025, the remarkable reduction in blood transfusions has far surpassed national trends and can serve as a model for other hospitals
SUFFERN, NY (September 8, 2025) – Good Samaritan Hospital, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth), has achieved a 41% reduction in red blood cell transfusions since 2017—more than six times the national average decline of 2–6% (according to data from the National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey) over the same period. The milestone is the result of a multi-pronged approach led by Richard Evans, MD, FACS, Director of the Bloodless Medicine and Surgery Program, which was launched in 2018 at Good Samaritan Hospital.
In 2017, there were over 3,400 units of red blood cells transfused at Good Samaritan Hospital. In 2025, the hospital is on track for only 2,000 units of red blood cells to be transfused.
“The tremendous drop in blood transfusions at Good Samaritan Hospital is commendable, and can serve as a model for other hospitals,” said David Lubarsky, MD, MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer of WMCHealth. “Minimizing the number of transfusions has significant benefits for patients. It’s also good for hospitals and healthcare providers, as it can result in cost savings, improved patient outcomes, and conservation of resources.”
The Bloodless Surgery Program at Good Samaritan Hospital serves patients with pre-operative anemia, intra-operative anemia, and anemia unrelated to surgery—cases in which traditional approaches might call for transfusion. The team at Good Samaritan Hospital uses a combination of techniques to reduce or prevent blood loss, including:
- Pre-surgical optimization with iron supplements and hormone injections to boost red blood cell production.
- Robotic-assisted surgery, which requires fewer transfusions—21% less compared to traditional methods (Annals of Surgery, 2025). The hospital has gone from 35 cases of robotic surgery in 2017 to a projected 600 cases in 2025.
- Tranexamic acid (TXA), a medication that helps control bleeding by preventing the breakdown of blood clots, is given to all joint replacement patients to reduce blood loss.
- Positioning and oxygenation strategies to minimize hypoxemia and allow bone marrow recovery.
Dr. Evans also attributes much of the drop in blood transfusions to culture change within the hospital. “We’ve shifted the mindset. Clinicians are more thoughtful about transfusion thresholds and more aware of alternatives,” he said. Minimizing unnecessary transfusions also reduces opportunities for preventable mistakes and preventable deaths.
“Blood transfusions save lives, but they also carry risks—higher infection rates, longer hospital stays, and, in rare cases, severe or life-threatening reactions,” said Dr. Evans. “Plus, we want to respect the wishes of all our patients, including those who do not want to receive blood transfusions—so it’s important to have multiple ways to help patients avoid blood loss.”
Jehovah’s Witnesses are among the groups that generally refuse blood transfusions due to religious beliefs. The Jehovah’s Witnesses moved their world headquarters from Brooklyn to Warwick, NY, in 2016. The Jehovah’s Witnesses headquarters, which are now closer to Good Samaritan Hospital, attract thousands of visitors each month.
Dr. Evans plans to share his remarkable results with his colleagues at Good Samaritan Hospital as well as colleagues at the other hospitals in the Westchester Medical Center Health Network. He also plans to spread the word through conferences and professional networks. Dr. Evans hopes Good Samaritan Hospital’s approach will inspire other hospitals—currently, only about 5% in the U.S. have a dedicated bloodless surgery program.
“Minimizing blood transfusions can be a safer, smarter, and more respectful way to care for many patients,” Dr. Evans said. “Our results prove it’s possible—and worth doing.”