A patient-warming apparatus integrally comprises a patient-support substrate, a patient-heating element disposed proximal to the patient-support substrate, and an electrosurgical return electrode that is also disposed proximal to the patient-support substrate. By one approach the electrosurgical return electrode is integral to the patient-heating element. By another approach the electrosurgical return electrode is disposed between the patient-support substrate and the patient-heating element. In all of these cases, if desired, the electrosurgical return electrode comprises a part of a capacitively-coupled electrosurgical return electrode.
