Roper Health Selects New Blood Provider

South Carolina-Based, Non-Profit, Community Blood Services Organization Serves Coastal South Carolina Region

Greenville, SC (January 28, 2019) -- The Blood Connection (TBC), based in Greenville, SC, is now the exclusive blood provider to Roper Health. On January 1, 2019, TBC began serving Roper Hospital, Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, and Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospital. A fourth hospital partner will be supported when Roper St. Francis Berkeley Hospital opens in Berkeley County this summer.

For decades, TBC has provided blood to hospitals in the westernmost part of South Carolina. Today, it is the exclusive provider for the entire Upstate and a large portion of North Carolina. The Blood Connection is a non-profit 501(c)(3) community blood center, licensed and regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Through its affiliation with SC Med-Trans Air Medical Transport, TBC has a long-standing relationship with the Lowcountry medical community. Henry Ward, Regional Director of Med-Trans, recognizes the TBC partnership that provides on-board O-Negative blood units and plasma, vital to patients during the golden hour. “We were happy to learn that The Blood Connection is expanding its presence in the Charleston area. TBC has been a valuable partner, enabling us to bring life-saving blood products to the patients who need them the most--trauma victims and those in need of immediate transfusions," Ward said.

TBC has also supplied blood products to other SC coastal hospitals, as needed, through its resource sharing program.

“We are honored to be able to support the health of people in this region, and we are grateful for each new opportunity to connect donors with recipients,” said Delisa K. English, TBC President and CEO. “We want Lowcountry residents to join us by donating blood that will serve friends, family and neighbors. When you give blood with The Blood Connection, you are ensuring that people in your community will have blood available when they need it.”

The Blood Connection will also be expanding its donor collection opportunities in the Lowcountry.  “We're looking forward to working with blood donors in this region,” English said. "This is an opportunity to serve more people, help more patients and save more lives. We’re hiring employees and recruiting donors from the local community. Please watch for our signature red blood mobile units and listen for a call from our donor recruiters.”

Every two seconds, someone in the US needs a life-saving blood transfusion, and volunteer donors are the only source of blood and platelets. Maintaining an adequate blood supply requires a delicate balancing effort that monitors available supply versus expected demand. Donated blood must be constantly replenished because it has a limited shelf life.  Community blood banks focus on fulfilling the blood supply needs of a single region. In locally-driven operations, neighbors are helping neighbors, but only through a partnership with the community.

Dr. Rick McEvoy, Laboratory Medical Director at Roper St. Francis Healthcare, has welcomed TBC, recognizing the critical elements of a successful blood bank partnership.

“We are excited about this new partnership with The Blood Connection,” said McEvoy.  “Given the reliability and professionalism of The Blood Connection, we believe that the health of our patients and the community of Charleston will benefit for many years to come.”

Donors can visit thebloodconnection.org to find a nearby blood drive or to schedule a donation appointment.  Donors can also call (864) 751-3019 for more information.

Photos can be accessed here: TBC Images - Press.

About The Blood Connection 

Founded as Greenville Blood Assurance in 1962, The Blood Connection (TBC) is an independently managed, not-for-profit (501(c)(3)) community blood center responsible for providing a safe, sustainable and cost-effective blood supply to more than 75 hospital partners in over 50 counties throughout the Carolinas and Georgia.

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