July 13, 2001

Blood products are among the most important resources at the MGH, holding the power to alter and help save lives. However, there tends to be an impression that blood is an everpresent resource, when actually it is becoming an increasingly precious commodity for clinicians and patients.

"Because we see so many critically ill patients, the MGH uses a disproportionate amount of blood supplies, compared to smaller hospitals serving less acute patients," explains Christopher Stowell, MD, PhD, of MGH Pathology and director of the MGH Blood Transfusion Service.

The MGH receives approximately half of its necessary blood supply from its in-house donor program, led by the MGH Blood Donor Center. Despite the generosity of employees and outside donors who come to the center and to the MGH bloodmobile, however, the need for blood continues to grow.

"Blood donation is something that has to be ongoing," says Kimberley Cronin, donor services manager at the center. Cronin and Stowell attribute the blood shortage to a number of problems. Not only is the economy slowing – making people less willing and able to take time off from work to donate – but the list of criteria that donors must meet to qualify continues to lengthen. For example, concerns about the human form of mad cow disease – which never has been transmitted through a blood transfusion – may lead to the disqualification of people who have spent as few as three to six months in Europe.

Not only are blood supplies diminishing, but acquiring blood is becoming more expensive. The MGH must pay the American Red Cross, the primary supplier of blood products in Massachusetts, a processing fee for each unit purchased. Those prices are about to dramatically increase.

"There tends to be a belief that blood is a commodity that will always be plentiful and available," Stowell says. "People forget that the supply is not infinite, and they often don't realize that we have to pay for a large quantity of the blood we use at the hospital."

In addition, Cronin notes, the Red Cross itself is experiencing shortages: "When they have shortages, they can't give blood to us no matter how much we pay for it," she says. "And because of the price increases nationwide, all hospitals are trying to find less expensive resources from which to import blood. Because those other resources now are going to be tapped too, we have no back-up to go to if the Red Cross cannot provide us with blood."

While 60 percent of the hospital's donated blood is collected through the traveling bloodmobile, Cronin says that the percentage of in-house donations is increasing. "That's very encouraging, but we still need more," she notes. "With summer here, when donations tend to decrease, and the Red Cross anticipates shortages, it's increasingly difficult to maintain our supply at a safe level. But we want to emphasize that every single donor is so important, especially our employees. We need to do more to maximize collections here at the MGH, so that we can keep the supply steady for the patients who need it."

Dan Caufield, of MGH Buildings and Grounds, enjoys a sundae after donating blood.

The center is hoping to attract even more employee donors through a series of events and promotions, such as last week's Make Your Own Sundae party. The MGH vs. BWH Employee Blood Drive Challenge will begin Aug. 27, and a pizza party will be held Sept. 4 and 5.

Employees are eligible to donate every 56 days, and will receive a blood donor card listing their blood type after their initial donation. "Our donors mean so much to us and the hospital, and they should be applauded," says Cronin. "We need people to donate as frequently as possible. Everything we collect will be used."

The MGH Blood Donor Center is located in the Gray Lobby. For more information or to make an appointment to donate, call (617) 726-8177.