Article Source: Blood Centers of the Pacific
The following is taken from the BCP web page
Blood Centers of the Pacific’s Mission is to provide an adequate and affordable blood supply which meets the health and safety needs of the public; and to conduct medical and scientific research and education that improves the safety and efficacy of blood transfusions.
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Our History
When two San Francisco physicians began exploring ways to supply blood in adequate amounts to people who needed it, the concept of a community blood bank did not exist. Although some hospitals had small drawing stations, there wasn’t a sufficient method of obtaining and storing blood for later use – by both our military and community hospitals.
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The two pioneers decided to pursue the idea of a community blood bank. The San Francisco Medical Society (SFMS) granted the fledgling blood bank permission to operate out of the basement floor of an old San Francisco home owned by the SFMS known as the Irwin Mansion.
On June 12, 1941, Irwin Memorial Blood Bank opened its doors to its first volunteer blood donors. “This was the very first nonprofit community blood bank in the nation,” recalled Dr. DeWitt K. Burnham, one of the founders. The physicians kept their promise to the people of San Francisco that never again would a patient be without an adequate supply of blood.
After years of growth, the blood bank expanded its blood collection operations throughout Northern California. Soon, it became clear that a bigger facility was needed for its headquarters and in April of 1955, Irwin opened its new doors at Masonic and Turk Streets in San Francisco, where Blood Centers of the Pacific’s headquarters exist today.
Significant growth and expansion has occurred since 1955:
· 1997: Irwin Memorial Blood Bank merged with Peninsula Blood Bank
to become Blood Centers of the Pacific
· 1999: Blood Centers of the Pacific affiliated with Blood Systems the nation’s
second largest blood collection organization in the United States
· 2011: Blood Centers of the Pacific merged with Blood Bank of the Redwoods,
Santa Rosa to serve Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino Counties
· 2016: Blood Centers of the Pacific merged with BloodSource, Sacramento
BloodSource and Blood Centers of the Pacific together represent the largest blood supplier in Northern and Central California. Through a network of 22 donor centers and thousands of mobile blood drives, our highly-trained and dedicated professionals work with blood donors to help patients at nearly 100 regional medical centers and beyond. Together, we are part of Blood Systems. Together, we share a lifesaving mission.
BLOOD NEEDS: Blood Shortage Alert: We are in need of ALL blood types! CALL 888-393-4483 to donate now. Thank You
HOSPITALS SERVED
Blood Centers of the Pacific is a nonprofit, community-based organization that provides blood and blood components to hospitals, physicians and patients throughout Northern California. It also houses the Blood Systems Research Institute which conducts medical research to improve blood safety and patient care. Blood Centers of the Pacific helps 50,000 patients every year with blood donated by community volunteers.
A subsidiary of Blood Systems, the second largest blood collection organization in the U.S., Blood Centers of the Pacific is governed by a voluntary Board of Directors. The board represents community leaders in the fields of medicine, business and civic service and is licensed by the Food and Drug Administration.
We have approximately 300 full-time and part-time employees, including physicians, directors, laboratory assistants, phlebotomists, registered nurses, medical assistants, donor recruiters, hospital services personnel, research and administrative staff. We are dedicated to serving the community by ensuring there is always blood for those in need.
Blood Centers of the Pacific provides the critical link between blood donors who generously give the gift of life and the local patients who need this lifesaving gift.
Blood Centers of the Pacific works closely with businesses, community groups, non-profit organizations, churches, synagogues, schools and colleges to schedule “on-site” mobile blood drives. We process more than 200,000 blood components, and distribute about 145,000 pints of blood and almost 24,000 units of platelets to more than 50 hospitals annually.
Thousands of lives are sustained, even saved through blood transfusions and research that come from Blood Centers of the Pacific.
Blood Centers of the Pacific is licensed by the US Food & Drug Administration and the CA Department of Public Health. It’s also accredited by the AABB and the European Union and a proud member of America’s Blood Centers, a national network of community-based blood centers.
888-393-GIVE
Shortage Alert: We are in need of all blood
This writer recently gave blood and has scheduled his next donation. Join Me
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Robert Riechel
E=Mail: SanBrunoPatch.Robert@Yahoo.com
My Posts: http://patch.com/users/robert-riechel
Photo Credit: San Bruno CA Patch Archives
Source Credit: Robert Riechel
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