Enhanced vision provides cohesive impact in U.S. transfusion medicine
Texas Border Business
McAllen, Texas — Blood Systems announced today that its 10 blood center brands including United Blood Services will unite as one cohesive brand under the new name Vitalant. As one of the nation’s oldest and largest comprehensive transfusion medicine organizations serving local communities across 40 states including Texas, Vitalant’s 127 nationwide donation centers and 30,000 mobile blood drives welcome more than 780,000 donors who supply 1.8 million donations per year.
“Our organization has grown to encompass blood donation centers and specialty services from coast to coast. As transfusion medicine leaders, we embrace this opportunity to combine our innovative capabilities,” said Vitalant President and CEO Dave Green. “We invite the public to join us in generating more vital donations to transform even more lives in communities across the United States.”
Unifying the combined capabilities and national presence of the organization’s many brands, Vitalant brings together the benefits of a cohesive centralized support structure and enhanced research opportunities to advance transfusion care and reach people most in need. It also reflects a commitment to donors to ensure a consistent and seamless experience across all centers and blood drives.
The 10 donation center brands that come together collectively under the name Vitalant are: Blood Centers of the Pacific, BloodSource, Bonfils Blood Center, Central Blood Bank, Community Blood Services, Inland Northwest Blood Center, Lifeblood, LifeShare, LifeSource and United Blood Services, in addition to the umbrella organization Blood Systems including its research institute and specialty laboratory. Vitalant’s national headquarters is in Scottsdale, Ariz.
“United Blood Services has a 65-year history as McAllen’s largest blood center,” said James Dugger, president of Vitalant operations in Texas and New Mexico. “We remain committed to the community with the same people and dedication to the mission that you’ve come to expect from us.”
Vitalant supports nearly 1,000 hospitals and healthcare entities throughout the United States, impacting millions of lives. In addition to blood products, Vitalant offers hospital partners transfusion services, medical consulting, quality guidance, ongoing education, research and more.
There is a constant need for blood – in fact, nearly 5,000 blood donations are needed each day to meet the needs of people throughout the country. At least 70 blood donations are needed each day to meet the needs of people throughout the Rio Grande Valley region. Statistics show that nearly 60 percent of blood donations come from people over 40, and nearly 45 percent come from people older than 50. Vitalant looks to inspire the next generation of blood donors while building lasting relationships with people of all ages.
“Vitalant’s purpose is to help people realize their life-transforming potential,” said Chairman of the Board of Trustees Dr. Ron Waeckerlin. “A name change does not change our commitment to the communities we serve in the Rio Grande Valley area, or to the people who count on us. In fact, our national presence allows us to effectively tap into our network to ensure donations reach the people who need it most.”
The name Vitalant (“Vye-TAL-ent”) embodies something vital and full of life and is directly connected to the organization’s vision to create life-transforming outcomes for nationwide communities.
Vitalant will maintain the same community-based staff in every donation center, and donors will experience the personal, professional and comfortable level of service they have come to trust and expect. In the Rio Grande Valley area, Vitalant has two donation centers and hosts up to an average of 75 blood drives every month. Vitalant will continue to host blood drives throughout the region. Please visit https://www.vitalant.org to find a donation location and time that is convenient for you.
About Vitalant
Vitalant is the nation’s second largest community blood service provider, supplying comprehensive transfusion medicine services for nearly 1,000 hospitals and healthcare partners for patients in need across 40 states. Vitalant inspires local communities to serve the needs of others and transform lives through the selfless act of donating blood. Every day, almost 5,000 blood donations are needed to meet the needs of people throughout the country, and Vitalant’s 780,000 donors supply 1.8 million donations a year. In addition to blood products, Vitalant offers customers transfusion services, medical consulting, quality guidance, ongoing education, research and more. For more information and to schedule a donation, visit vitalant.org or call 877-258-4825 (877-25VITAL). Join the conversation about impacting the lives of others on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
