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Hoxworth to Honor
Blood Collection ProfessionalsDuring the week of September 17-23, Hoxworth will join other blood centers across the country in celebrating the 3rd Annual or just Blood Collectors Week, sponsored by AABB and Baxter Healthcare Corporation. This annual recognition week recognizes and celebrates the critical role blood collectors serve in helping to ensure blood is available to patients in need. 
According to AABB, about 29 million units of blood components are transfused annually in the United States. These units are transfused to more than 4.5 million patients, including those with cancer and other diseases, for organ transplant recipients, and accident and trauma victims. Volunteer blood donors are the primary source of blood used for transfusions. 
Blood collection professionals serve an important role in educating donors and helping to ensure a safe and comfortable donation experience. Blood collection staff will help facilitate either a whole blood or apheresis donation. In a whole blood donation, a pint of blood is collected and then divided into its therapeutic components for transfusion. With an apheresis donation, a donor gives a specific therapeutic component such as platelets, plasma or red blood cells. Red blood cells represent the blood component in highest demand with about 14 million units transfused annually. “It’s great to be a part of a team that truly makes a difference in our community working in concert with all of the donors that we serve," said Shawn Gregory, Assistant Division Director, Hoxworth Donor Services. “Our management team is so proud of our employees because their hard work and dedication each and every day helps provide the precious ‘gift of life’ for all of the ill and injured patients in our community.” “The blood collection and transfusion medicine community appreciates the care and concern blood collection staff provide to volunteer donors on a daily basis,” said Karen Shoos Lipton, chief executive officer of AABB. “The commitment and dedication these professionals display help our community to ensure that blood is readily available whenever and wherever it is needed.” “All individuals who support blood collection are making an important contribution to the health and well-being of our local and national communities by helping to ensure blood is available to patients in need,” said Kevin McCulloch, general manager for Baxter’s Transfusion Therapies business. “Blood Collectors Week is a tribute to this vital profession and we are proud to join with AABB and blood centers nationwide to honor these individuals.” About AABB: Established in 1947, AABB is an international, not-for-profit association dedicated to the advancement of science and the practice of transfusion medicine and related biological therapies. The association is committed to improving health by developing and delivering standards, accreditation and educational programs and services that optimize patient and donor care and safety. AABB membership consists of approximately 1,800 institutions and 8,000 individuals, including physicians, scientists, administrators, medical technologists, nurses, researchers, blood donor recruiters and public relations personnel. Members are located in all 50 states and 80 countries. www.aabb.org About Baxter: Baxter Healthcare Corporation is the principal U.S. operating subsidiary of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX). Baxter International Inc., through its subsidiaries, assists healthcare professionals and their patients with treatment of complex medical conditions, including cancer, hemophilia, immune disorders, kidney disease and trauma. The company applies its expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to make a meaningful difference in patients' lives. www.baxter.com About Hoxworth: Hoxworth Blood Center at the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center needs to collect from 350 volunteer blood donors and 40 volunteer platelet donors each day to keep up with the demands of tri-state hospitals and their patients. Hoxworth, founded in 1938, serves 28 hospitals in 17 counties in Southwestern Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana. Annually, Hoxworth collects over 90,000 units of blood from local volunteer donors. Copyright © 2007 Hoxworth Blood Center | Member: America's Blood Centers |
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