MUSC Health adds community blood center as blood provider

CHARLESTON, S.C. (Feb. 9, 2022) – The Blood Connection (TBC), an independently managed, non-profit community blood center is now a supplemental blood provider for MUSC Health. 

TBC has served as a non-profit 501(c)(3) community blood center for decades and has a long-standing relationship with the South Carolina medical community through its affiliation with around 40 other hospitals in the state. In total, the organization supplies blood to around 100 hospitals across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. 

“If the pandemic has taught us anything, it's that we must be able to adjust. The Blood Connection has proven its ability to do that and is proud to now serve the Charleston area to assure there are enough blood products to help any patient here," said President & CEO of the Blood Connection, Delisa English. "But we can only assure that with the help of community blood donors. Please donate blood as frequently as possible. Blood donation saves lives."

Throughout 2021, TBC saw a steady decrease in blood donations caused by historically low donor turnout. Although TBC is responsible for keeping the blood supply stable, it cannot replicate blood; it must be donated. Expanding into the Charleston community allows TBC to increase blood donor collection opportunities. TBC’s mission is to ensure all hospital partners have the blood supplies needed for patients at any given time.

“In supporting our work as the state’s only comprehensive academic health system, providers such as The Blood Connection serve to ensure that we have the necessary blood products that are critical for the successful outcomes of our patients. We look forward to working closely with TBC to strengthen and improve the local blood supply now and into the future,” said David Zaas, M.D., MUSC Health Charleston CEO. 

To find opportunities to donate blood in the Charleston area, go to thebloodconnection.org/donate.

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About MUSC

Founded in 1824 in Charleston, MUSC is the state’s only comprehensive academic health system, with a unique mission to preserve and optimize human life in South Carolina through education, research and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates more than 3,000 students in six colleges – Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy – and trains more than 850 residents and fellows in its health system. MUSC brought in more than $327.6 million in research funds in fiscal year 2021, leading the state overall in research funding. MUSC also leads the state in federal and National Institutes of Health funding, with more than $220 million. For information on academic programs, visit musc.edu.

As the health care system of the Medical University of South Carolina, MUSC Health is dedicated to delivering the highest quality and safest patient care while educating and training generations of outstanding health care providers and leaders to serve the people of South Carolina and beyond. Patient care is provided at 14 hospitals with approximately 2,500 beds and five additional hospital locations in development; more than 350 telehealth sites, with connectivity to patients’ homes; and nearly 750 care locations situated in all regions of South Carolina. In 2021, for the seventh consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Health the No. 1 hospital in South Carolina. To learn more about clinical patient services, visit muschealth.org.

MUSC and its affiliates have collective annual budgets totaling $4.4 billion. The nearly 25,000 MUSC team members include world-class faculty, physicians, specialty providers, scientists, students, affiliates and care team members who deliver and support groundbreaking education, research, and patient care.

About The Blood Connection

Founded in Greenville, SC, The Blood Connection has been committed to saving lives since 1962. TBC is an independently managed, not-for-profit, community blood center that provides blood products to around 100 hospitals within Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.  Recognized by the U.S. Congress for its dedication to disaster preparedness and the community, TBC works diligently to collect blood from volunteer donors to meet the ever-increasing demand. By keeping collections local, TBC serves hundreds of thousands of patients a year in its communities. TBC is licensed and regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. For more information, visit thebloodconnection.org