MEDIC Regional Blood Center implemented donations by appointment only beginning March 23, 2020. With the “Safer at Home” Order, MEDIC is urging donors not to cancel their upcoming appointments for this ongoing need.

MEDIC Regional Blood Center is an essential resource for regional hospitals and will have an ongoing need to supply blood and blood-related products now and in the future.

MEDIC stats as of March 23: To date, MEDIC has seen 72 mobile drive cancellations for March and April, which results in 2,196 products lost.

MEDIC is implementing the use of N95 masks out of an abundance of caution for collections staff. This is not a CDC requirement.

MEDIC Updates:

• Beginning March 23:

• Donors at the four donor centers and mobile drives will be seen by appointment only.

• This will allow donors to follow the 6-foot recommendations for distance from others.

• This will also allow donor flow to be smooth and reduce wait times.

• We are asking donors to please continue to check the mobile drive schedule daily as the schedule can change.

• As blood is an essential resource for the healthcare system, and in an abundance of caution to protect the health and wellness of both our donors and collections staff, we are implementing the use of N95 masks so that we can continue to collect blood through the COVID-19 situation.

• Staff, donors and visitors undergo a daily check-in upon arrival at any facility or mobile drive.

• The check-in includes a temperature check as well as answering if they feel healthy and well and if someone in the household has been diagnosed with COVID-19/Coronavirus.

• Temperature must be 99.5 degrees or less to continue.

• MEDIC will setup waiting areas so that donors are separated and not sitting next to one another.

• Donors may be asked to wait in their car until we are ready to screen them.

• We will not allow more than two donors on a bus at one time.

As a reminder, the blood on the shelves now is what would be used in a trauma event and it takes three days for donated blood to be processed and ready for distribution.