What is Phlebotomy, or Blood Draws?
Here at Gentle Touch Mobile Phlebotomy, we specialize in blood draws, finger sticks, redraws, and many other specialties with our certified Mobile Phlebotomist onsite. What exactly is phlebotomy, a Phlebotomist, and a mobile one at that? Let us explain…
Also called a blood draw or venipuncture, a Phlebotomy is the process of making a puncture in a vein with a cannula, or tube. This is typically for the purpose of drawing blood from a patient’s arm. Phlebotomies are an important tool for diagnosing many medical conditions that can only be found in the blood. Performing a phlebotomy can either be done in hospitals, clinics, outpatient care facilities, diagnostic laboratories and blood donation centers.
Phlebotomist
The role of a Phlebotomist is to not only perform the blood draw procedure, but to also prepare the blood for medical testing, transfusions or donation. Training to be a Phlebotomist includes collecting blood via venipuncture, finger pricks, or in the case of infants, heel pricks.
Phlebotomists have the responsibility of maintaining professionalism throughout the entire procedure. Ensuring that they use protective equipment for themselves, the individuals and the specimen assures the prevention of tainting or degradation of samples. In addition, the equipment must be properly maintained as well. A phlebotomist should always ensure that they provide age and culturally appropriate services to their clients.
Mobile Phlebotomy
Mobile phlebotomy services come into play when blood samples are collected outside of a hospital setting. These convenient services are used when an individual needs their blood sample taken, but they cannot make it to a specialized center.
This may be a situation where a patient is elderly, or those who are physically challenged or those who have severe illnesses, such as individuals with pulmonary edema or those with severe iron deficiency.
Nursing homes and other care centers that may find it difficult to get people to hospitals for blood tests benefit from mobile phlebotomy services as well. Individuals who need regular blood testing, like diabetics or cancer patients, may find frequent hospital visits tiresome and would call for a mobile phlebotomist.
Benefits of Mobile Phlebotomy
Mobile phlebotomy services are also great for people with busy schedules, have trouble transporting to hospitals, or those who simply want a specimen collected in the privacy of their homes.
An advantage of receiving mobile phlebotomy services include convenience, but they are also affordable and offer a high degree of privacy for the patient.
A mobile phlebotomist has the responsibility of making a house call to the patient, drawing the blood, or administering other specialized services, and then transporting it back to a laboratory for analysis.
Gentle touch is happy to perform mobile phlebotomys with the utmost professionalism, respect and discretion. Never leave your home, office, or wait in traffic again. We come directly to you, so you can save time and money. We are committed to giving you the best service in the Southwest Washington and Portland, Oregon area!