Carilion Clinic to partner with The Blood Connection to support blood product needs for local patients
Carilion Clinic, a not-for-profit integrated health system headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia, has partnered with The Blood Connection (TBC) for its blood product needs. This agreement is effective Dec. 31, 2023. TBC is a non-profit 501(c)(3) community blood center and the primary blood provider for more than 120 hospitals in Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia.
TBC plans to open donation centers locally and will serve our community though hosting mobile blood drives. Expanding into the Roanoke community will allow TBC to increase donor collection opportunities. With this partnership, blood donors can feel confident knowing their donations are helping our community and neighbors.
“Carilion is excited about our new blood services partnership with The Blood Connection,” said Carilion President and Chief Operating Officer Steve Arner. “TBC is dedicated to supplying our local blood product needs and being involved in the community. We encourage blood donors to support TBC’s future blood drives to help them ensure our region has adequate blood to help us care for our patients.”
“We are honored to partner with Carilion Clinic to provide these lifesaving blood products to local patients,” said Delisa English, President and CEO of TBC. “Local blood donors make the difference in sustaining the community blood supply and preventing blood shortages. All blood products used by patients at Carilion will be provided exclusively by TBC. We will immediately begin efforts to collect blood products in the community and are seeking blood donors and organizations who are willing to support this partnership and the local blood supply by sponsoring blood drives.”
Despite national blood shortages, TBC has continuously proven to be a reliable and dedicated partner for local hospitals – committing itself to ensuring blood products are readily available through volunteer blood donors. TBC adheres to the same high-quality standards as Carilion and is regulated by the FDA and Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB).
Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs a blood transfusion while only three percent of the eligible population donates. 4.5 million Americans will be impacted by a blood donation every year. Surgery patients, accident victims, patients with cancer and newborn babies rely on the local blood supply. Although TBC is responsible for keeping the blood supply stable, it cannot replicate blood; it must be donated. TBC urges the community to donate blood to ensure that hospitals needs are uninterrupted. TBC also encourages and welcomes local schools, businesses, churches, and organizations, to be part of the connection as a blood drive host. To learn more about hosting a blood drive, please visit thebloodconnection.org/host.
For more information, visit thebloodconnection.org or CarilionClinic.org
