Stop the Daily Blood Draws in Hospitalized Patients

Mrs Johnson* lies passively in her hospital bed, entangled in wires and tubes. Two large tubes protrude from the right chest wall of her slender frame. They are connected in a Y shape to a white container, attached to the wall suction. There is minimal serosanguinous fluid in the chest tubes. It has been that way for 4 days. Her brown skin cannot camouflage the bruises over both wrists from the multiple blood draws and intravenous lines. Her veins are collapsed like the branches of a fallen tree. Her large eyes that were previously filled with joie de vivre are dull and expressionless. Though her chest wall hurts with every breath, she remains stoic.

Jaya Mallidi, MD, MHS

Mrs Johnson has been in and out of the hospital several times for a recurrent pneumothorax. At 37 years of age, she has no other significant medical problems. She now knows the routine: every 4 hours, vital checks; every morning, blood draw. She does not want to be labeled "difficult or rude." She does not want to offend her caregivers by refusing. But she wonders whether these frequent vital checks and daily blood draws add anything to her care.

At 5:45 AM, the ritual starts. She extends her arm passively for a blood pressure check.