(WXYZ) — Beaumont Health is hosting several blood drives due to a nationwide blood shortage. It was announced Monday that the hospital system was impacted by the shortage, which could impact patient care.
“To continue providing compassionate and extraordinary care to our patients, we are working diligently with blood suppliers to stabilize and increase the supply of blood. The effort is expected to take several weeks,” Carolyn Wilson, RN, executive vice president and chief operating officer, said. “We are asking our Beaumont health care heroes to donate their own blood to help our communities. And, we’re also asking the public to support this effort by donating their own blood, too."
To address this concern, Beaumont is hosting several blood drives. Officials also note that it's required that a person vaccinated for COVID wait 48 hours after receiving a first or second dose before donating blood.
“The pandemic has affected us in a lot of different ways and this is the most recent way. Now, blood utilization is up," Wilson said. "We’re asking our own Beaumont health care heroes to help us with blood donation but we are also asking for the communities' help."
Surgeries were delayed during the pandemic and health officials are seeing an increase in trauma cases.
“More people are driving again," Wilson said. "We’re seeing motorcycle accidents and unfortunately even gunshots and other trauma cases like that."
The delta variant that originated in India is now the dominant strain in the UK. Britain’s health minister says the strain is estimated to be 40 percent more transmissible, meaning unvaccinated people are more likely to get COVID. But Michigan has reached a critical stage in the fight against the coronavirus. The state says fewer than three percent of diagnostic tests have been positive in the last seven days, which could be a sign the spread of the virus is slowing.
Beaumont says blood donations are down because of the pandemic. However, with more people getting vaccinated and cases continuing to trend downward, the hospital says now is the time to donate again.
“This is a wonderful way for our community to really support one another and really get past this next phase now of the challenges that we are facing,” Wilson said.
Upcoming blood drives below:
Beaumont Hospital, Grosse Pointe
Tuesday, June 15, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Connelly Auditorium
Schedule online HERE.
Beaumont Hospital, Troy
Wednesday, June 16, 2 to 8 p.m.
Classrooms 1-4
Schedule online HERE.
Beaumont Hospital, Wayne
Friday, June 25, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Second floor conference room
Schedule online now HERE.
Beaumont Hospital, Trenton
Monday, June 28, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Beaumont Surgery Center – Trenton
Conference room 220
Schedule online HERE.
Appointments can be also be made by phone at 866-MI-BLOOD. Walk-ins are welcome if the schedule permits. For more information, visit versiti.org.
