St. Mary’s Medical Center in Grand Junction has announced plans to turn over its blood collection operations to an independent services provider.
Under a signed letter of intent, Vitalant will complete the transition by this summer.
Until then, the St. Mary’s Blood Donor Center at the Pavilion will continue to collect and provide blood products.
Bryan Johnson, president of St. Mary’s Medical Center, said operational requirements implemented by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration over
the years have made it increasingly complicated to operate a blood donor center within a hospital.
“Utilizing the expertise of a blood collection organization that has a sole focus on blood supply and donor management makes the most effective and efficient use of the community blood supply,” Johnson said. “It also allows us to further focus on our specialty and passion — patient care.”
The largest independent nonprofit blood services provider in the United States, Vitalant provides blood and transfusion medicine services to about 900 hospitals and their patients across the country.
Anne Burtchaell, president of the Vitalant Mountain Division, said the transition will continue a long relationship between Vitalant and St. Mary’s.
“We are excited to serve the Grand Junction community and its dedicated donors,” Burtchaell said. “We are thrilled to represent the entire Colorado footprint and to ultimately help more patients in need.”
Johnson said blood donors shouldn’t notice any changes — and their donations are still needed to help patients facing burns and other injuries, cancers and other illnesses as well as surgeries.
Donors should continue giving blood at the St. Mary’s Blood Center or at upcoming blood drives until the transition is complete.