Cross your fingers, and hope you don’t need blood due to an injury or an illness, especially since blood often seems to be in short supply. After all, what would you do if the hospital were out of your blood type?

Fortunately, patients at Paris Community Hospital/Family Medical Center (PCH/FMC) who are in need of blood donations do not need to worry about low blood supply at the critical times that they might need blood—even though one might think otherwise since PCH/FMC is a small, rural, Critical Access Hospital with only 25 beds. The success of the blood donor program in Paris is based on two important factors: (1) PCH/FMC partners with the Heart of America Region of the American Red Cross to conduct blood drives three times per year and (2) employees at PCH/FMC generously supply most of the blood during such drives. 

According to hospital blood drive chairman Ollie Smith, R.Ph., one reason that PCH/FMC partners with the American Red Cross is that if we collect a specified number of units of blood, the charge for the blood that we get is reduced. These savings are then passed on to patients. The Red Cross has additional drives in the community, but the PCH/FMC drives specifically benefit hospital patients. Laboratory Manager Dave Galbreath, M.T., explains that blood itself is always free to patients. The costs are incurred by administrative activities and the more than 20 tests that are mandated by the government to be sure that the blood is safe.

During a PCH/FMC blood drive, the Red Cross provides two busses and the personnel required to draw blood. Pharmacy Tech Rhonda Tomes, who serves as coordinator of the program, signs up volunteers and schedules appointments. Employees simply walk outside to the busses to donate blood. Members of the community are also welcome to participate.

In addition to giving blood, sometimes a platelet pheresis collection occurs; this process involves extracting platelets and returning other components (cells and plasma) to the donor. Platelets are the first defense in clotting blood, such as in an internal injury or when somebody has been cut. This particular process is not performed at PCH/FMC, but the Red Cross does do it at another local blood drive.

A major advantage of having PCH/FMC partner with the Red Cross is that blood (red blood cells, which have a life of only 42 days when refrigerated) is always current; it is rotated out if it nears an expiration date. In other words, when an expiration date draws close, the blood is sent to a large hospital that uses blood quickly, and PCH/FMC receives blood with a later expiration date. This rotation occurs every Wednesday and more often if necessary. All types of blood are kept on hand locally, in quantities relevant to how common the types are. For instance, the most common type is O positive, and the least common is AB negative. On occasion, a shortage of a particular type occurs—as happened earlier this month—but arrangements are made with the Red Cross for that type of blood to be delivered.

Smith noted that should a real emergency occur—perhaps a major accident at a community plant—additional blood supplies could be received from other members of the Red Cross region. Likewise, if one of those areas had an emergency, PCH/FMC could help to supply blood. No shortage has existed in recent memory, however. He emphasized that the primary reason that we conduct our own blood drives is that the process is helpful. “Yes, we realize some cost savings, but employees of the hospital and clinics understand the need for blood for patients, especially in times of crisis. Everyone in our setting is really good about giving,” explained Smith.

Galbreath stressed that technology has changed. To illustrate, with modern equipment, we can now find aneurysms before they rupture, thereby saving blood supplies formerly required. Cancer treatment is also now more selective, so less blood is used. The primary recipients of blood locally are older patients and patients with cancer although patients with heart disease, gastrointestinal disease, fractures and trauma, anemia, bone and joint abnormalities, organ transplants, and lung, liver and kidney disease often receive blood transfusions in hospitals nationwide.

According to Galbreath, people are encouraged to donate blood if possible. He stated, however, “Not everybody can do it. Some people can’t get past the needle. Others have medical problems that prevent their giving. In fact, only a certain percent of the population is able to give blood. We are grateful for those who can donate blood and pleased that at PCH/FMC we can offer this important service.”

Clearly, crossing your fingers, hoping that the necessary blood supply will be available should an emergency or illness send you to a small rural hospital such as Paris Community Hospital/Family Medical Center, is not necessary at all. The professional staff is well prepared to provide you—and your friends and loved ones—with blood, the gift of life, when you need it.