Posts tagged as:

blood bank

meredith

Fairy Tale Blood Centers

Wile E. Coyote

I always daydream when I’m trying to sleep at night (and sometimes during my lunch breaks at Incept!).

I don’t mean to, but after so many years of writing stories, my imagination is seemingly on auto-pilot. The other night I started thinking about fictional characters needing blood transfusions. I bet Wile E. Coyote needed nearly a dozen pints of blood per episode! That’s a lot of cartoon coyotes lining up at blood drives! Instead of handing out coffee mugs and t-shirts, the Looney Tunes blood center probably gave out Acme slingshots and anvils!

Because Incept isn’t 100% serious all the time (as evidenced by our semi-monthly corn hole tournaments), I put together a few faux advertisements that fictional blood centers would likely use and considered how Incept would help recruit their donors.

1.) The Wizard of Oz. I named this one the Emerald City Blood Center. If there were Conversational Marketing Experts (CMEs) in Oz, we would probably be contacting blood donors via crystal ball.

ECBC

2.) Star Wars. With all of those rebel offensives, lots of Stormtroopers surely need blood. Luckily, as clones, they’re all the same blood type! Every R2 unit in the empire probably had a hologram of Darth Vader pointing his finger like Uncle Sam, demanding that his troops donate blood.

Death Share

3.) Harry Potter. If Incept existed in the wizarding world, we would be sending owls with Howlers or speaking Patronuses, instead of making phone calls. We would also have to remind witches and wizards that blood can only come as a gift from another person. It can’t be conjured or transfigured, even with magic!

HOGBC

Join the fun! Think of your favorite book, movie, TV show, etc. What would the blood centers in that world look like?

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jbusto

HOW TO Improve Blood Donor Recruitment: Vol. 2

Well, it has been some time since my last post, as I was enjoying my brand new baby girl! Now I’m back to work and writing the next blog post in my series.

But since it has been so long, here is a recap of what I’ve already discussed…

Measurements are key to a healthy donor recruitment strategy

  • Providing internal recognition/compensation and doing it properly
  • Avoiding the ever-lingering question of “How did we do that?”
  • Never having to say, “We’re collecting enough overall, but not the right products…”

Now let’s talk about how to track results effectively. Firstly, you are going to need to determine the ways you are recruiting donors. Do you have anyone making calls? Are you sending postcards or emails? Are you doing bedside recruitment? Take a few moments to go through each area of your blood center and write down the names of the individuals who are helping in your recruitment efforts.

Got your list? Great! Now let’s start tracking results!

The first item we are going to work on is tracking “internal recognition/compensation.” For this, the best way to track results is by determining what donors are getting out of each type of communication. Track, within your system, who is being touched by what and when. If you are making calls, track the outcome codes. If you are doing bedside recruitment, put those appointments in your system. Have mobile sponsors provide schedules for each drive. If you have more than one person doing a certain type of recruitment, record their name or employee ID number.

Now that you have everything tracked, let’s start talking metrics. Before creating any rewards or recognition programs, it’s best to determine the baseline. In order to accomplish this, you will need to track your recruitment efforts for at least a month or two. Once you’ve done that, you can determine the appropriate goal for each recruitment avenue and set your internal programs accordingly.

For any telerecruiters, determine the needed donors per hour to achieve success and reward for anything higher than that.

For the part of your team that is doing bed-side recruitment, determine what is being done now and what is needed to achieve your desired goals, then set your rewards programs based on those findings.

For your mobile sponsors, reward for every unit over goal.

These are just a few ideas on how your can reward your team based on performance. In addition to any rewards, it is important to provide recognition. Have an internal newsletter? Does a recap of each month get sent to everyone? Promote the highest performing recruiters each time one is sent.

During my next post I am going to begin discussing how to answer the question of “How did we do that?” as well as getting into the position of never having to ask it again!

What do you do to ensure that you’re providing appropriate rewards and recognition?

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Stephanie

Blood in the US: We Don’t Know How Lucky We Are!

Just because you "paid good money" for something, doesn't mean you got a good deal.

It’s something we never think about.

If something happens and we need blood, we expect our hospital to have it on hand. Fortunately for us, we live in a nation where there’s usually blood available. More importantly, we know that the blood we’re getting is safe. Donors are screened before they ever see a needle and even afterwards, tests continue to be run on the blood.

What if that wasn’t always the case?

What if we couldn’t be sure the blood we were getting was safe? What if the donor had HIV or malaria? What if the blood we were given had expired? That is exactly the problem some hospitals in Asia are dealing with.

In India, about six million units of blood are needed each year to keep the blood supply at hospitals at a safe level. Unfortunately, only about half of that amount actually reaches the shelves. These blood shortages have been going on for years and they don’t show any sight of letting up.

Hospitals have been turning to “professional” blood donors – people who donate blood for money – to try to alleviate the problem. It sounds like a good solution, right?

Not really. Studies in India are showing that 10% of the people who have contracted HIV got it

Blood donors in India doing their part.

from blood transfusions. In the US, needles, tubes and bags are only ever used once and donors are screened before the donation to be sure that they are HIV-free. Some nursing homes and hospitals in India have gotten a bad reputation for reusing needles and not properly sterilizing their facility.

The shortages have even gotten so bad that the donors themselves are put in danger. In one hospital, a man was forced to donate blood twice within a ten-day period to help his wife. (Donors must generally wait 56 days after a whole blood donation before they can donate again.)

Even blood that has been imported isn’t necessarily safe. While it’s estimated that India imported about $200 million in blood and blood parts. Some of this blood was  imported from Austria. This blood had originally come from Africa and was infected with HIV. The government denies ever buying the blood.

So why did the government ban professional blood donors in the first place? According to Ranjit Dev Raj, who wrote the article India Ban on Professional Blood Donors Leads to Acute Shortage, “professional blood donors come from the dregs of society and therefore their blood was likely to be anaemic or infected with HIV, Hepatitis B or other dangerous pathogens.”

This is one of the reasons that, in the US, blood or plasma that is sold cannot be used in transfusions. More often than not, the blood goes to drug companies to be used in testing. That blood is even marked as coming from a “paid donor” no matter where it was collected from.

I was lucky enough to have a copy of the complacency policy sent to me by Shelly L. Burgess, a public affairs specialist for the FDA. It seems to agree with Mr. Dev Raj that paying for blood puts both donors and patients alike at risk.

India isn’t the only country that professional blood donors cause trouble for. In China, gang leaders recruit the poor to go to blood centers that pay for blood. On average, donors are paid about 200 yen (only $26) to help pay for travel. The gangs then take 80 yen (a little over $10) back from the donor as a finder’s fee and still the blood shortages persist.

We don’t know how lucky we are.

Living here, we’re blessed to have the resources we do. Yes, the U.S. also has its blood shortages, but it’s not nearly as bad as it could be. We can rest easier knowing that the blood we or our loved ones are getting is safe. It might not always be that way though.

We have to depend on volunteers for the blood and, sadly, not as many people donate as you might think. Of the 60% of people who can donate, only about 5% actually do. According the Red Cross, every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. That’s about 38,000 units needed every day.

Scary isn’t it?

Things like that make me donate whenever I can and help to explain why I work at Incept. Every little bit helps. Let me know what you think. Has anyone else heard about blood shortages closer to home?

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tjohnson

Looking Past Yourself

Katie Little aka @MNGurl1183

Utilizing HootSuite to connect with our blood donors, blood recipients and other blood donor recruiters, I’ve been introduced to many amazing individuals (thanks to the keyword column feature). It was within that column that I ran into Katie Little, also known as @MNGurl1183 (on Twitter). She said that she just finished volunteering for the day at Memorial Blood Center, so I approached her with a question and we soon were able to initiate an interview about what it’s like to volunteer at a blood center.

Tim: Ok, well the first question really is this: What made you start volunteering?

Katie: I finished a temporary job in April 2009 and I was having a hard time finding work, so I decided I wanted to volunteer. I went on their website and sent out an inquiry message.

Tim: So were you originally hoping to volunteer at Memorial Blood Center (MBC) or was it one of many choices? Did they call you first?

Katie: Yes.  I originally remembered they were at the Minnesota State Fair every year and located in St. Paul. I can’t really remember how it worked out exactly, but I started working on clerical jobs at their St. Paul location before working as a canteen host at blood drives. I eventually ended up as a rep at the state fair.

Tim: Great! So was it difficult to begin volunteering or were you able to start right away (as far as paperwork, etc.)?

Katie: I didn’t find it difficult. Really easy. I guess the only issue I had was how I would get there, but it’s on a great bus line.

Tim: Do you remember what your first day of volunteering was like?

Katie: It was just in their office. I would do like a copy job – just small stuff. It was really fun because I met other employees there who got to know me.

Tim: Have you been able to come into contact with any donors or see things change at the center when the donation need becomes critical?

Katie: I guess you could say I have. After they finish donating blood at a drive, they come to the canteen and I provide them with food and beverages.

Phil Losacker, in charge of volunteer services at Memorial Blood Center, and Katie Little

Tim: So you got a chance to interact and engage with the donors! How was the general atmosphere in the area after donations?

Katie: The general atmosphere is always positive. Sometimes you get people who are chatty and other times people just rush back to work. We try to emphasize them to take some sort of sugar on the way back. I have donated in the past. I recently came back from living in England for 10 months, so I’m not sure if I could donate.

Tim: Completely understandable. That must have been quite an experience! How has working at the center changed your view toward the need for blood donations and donors? Have you started donating since you began volunteering?

Katie: It has changed my view in that I believe everyone should take the opportunity to donate blood or volunteer.  One of the fun opportunities at the Minnesota State Fair is that we (MBC) have blood typists. So for 12 days, they “type” people. It’s fun because people find out on the spot like, “Oh, I’m an O+!”

Tim: Haha, that would be awesome! So are there many volunteers at the Blood Center?

Katie: I don’t know the exact number. I had an orientation yesterday about the fair and Phil said it’s 70/30 – 30% are actually MBC employees and 70% are volunteers.

Tim: That’s amazing! I had no idea the volunteer base would be so high. During your time there what is one thing you’ve learned from the blood center that is most worth sharing with others who don’t (yet) volunteer or donate? What do you think it would be?

Katie: Be open-minded and, if you can’t donate, share your time to help. Everyone needs blood and if you can’t donate (for whatever reason), spread the word about it. That is important.

Tim: So what’s next for you after volunteering? Is this something you’ll continue once you find a job? Have you looked into working at MBC? Will you continue to be an active donor?

Katie: I will continue to volunteer. At the moment, I am signed up for 4 shifts at the state fair. I am currently working an internship, plus a small part-time job.  Phil and I have a great relationship (he’s quite funny) so I will do anything to help get the word out about MBC to others and promote their organization. Volunteering is great to include on your resume. During interviews people become interested. And while I don’t think it’s a selling point, I feel that it eases the tension in an interview.

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Brian

How Sweet It Is! The Sweet Side of Giving Blood

I am a sugar fanatic. Ask any of my closest friends.

I recall my conquest of sweets starting at a young age. Call me a “grandma’s boy” and I’ll tell you proudly I was. My Grandma Steward was no different than any other loving grandparent. She spoiled me rotten. My love affair with sugar began in her kitchen. It was almost like walking through Willy Wonka’s magical land of candy. I feasted upon chocolate cakes, jammed jawbreakers into my mouth and smashed assortments of cookies all day long. The holy grail of the kitchen was the candy drawer. Filled to the brim with all kinds of chocolate bars, fruity taffies, gummies, bubble gum and more, it was a preschooler’s dream come true – while a dentist’s nightmare – and it was all mine.

Looking fondly back at that time (now as an adult), I still have a soft spot for anything involving sugar. Albeit not eaten as frequently as it used to be, I still enjoy the occasional binge on sweets.

One of the first things a person will find out about donating blood is that it’s very sweet indeed. When I first donated at my high school, I remember joyfully eating a small mountain of Oreos, and enjoying my classmates’ company while the school day lingered on, all while washing it down with what seemed to be a never-ending supply of Hi-C juice boxes.

When you donate blood your body replaces the fluid portion in about twenty-four hours. In order for this to happen, it burns about 650 extra calories. This is a big reason why donating blood and sweets, such as cookies and juices, go together so well. They taste great and replenish your blood sugar level.

In no specific order, these are some of my favorite things to munch on after a blood donation:

  • Oreos
  • Freshly baked chocolate chip cookies
  • Keebler fudge cookies
  • Chips-Ahoy with peanut butter cups
  • Hi-C fruit punch
  • Capri Sun pouches
  • Cupcakes
  • Cheese and peanut butter crackers
  • Red or blue Gatorade
  • Twinkies
  • Little Debbie snack cakes
  • Juicy Juice

The above is just a small portion of what I enjoy but, as always, we want to hear from you! What are your favorite snacks after donating blood? What’s the best snack you’ve ever had at a blood drive or donor center? Got anything else that could be added to the list? Let us know!

Now if you’ll excuse me all this talk of sugar is making me hungry!

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melissa

Blood Donation Recipients: Their Stories

As I attempt not to focus on a donor telling me he/she is just too busy - or simply uninterested – I find myself thinking about all the folks out there who will miss out on the benefit of this missed blood donation. Is it a patient having surgery? Is it a baby who’s dying and needs help? Is it someone going through chemotherapy? My focus is on those who have received transfusions for one reason or another.
Debra Klecan was fortunate enough to not only survive a horrific car accident, but also to receive blood from several generous donors. She was involved in an accident caused by a drunk driver (who died at the scene) and lost a lot of blood. Thankfully, there was a supply of blood on the shelves for her!
Then there’s the story of another woman, by the name of Judith Jones, who lives in Australia. She discovered that she had a disease that would be fatal to an unborn child. She lost four children due to this disease, before she was diagnosed. Thanks to miraculous connections and numerous blood transfusions she was able to birth a live baby! (It took 12 donors and countless transfusions to keep her baby alive in the womb.) She also donates blood to save the lives of other babies!
Fela Brannen receives frequent blood transfusions in her ongoing fight against Lupus, an autoimmune disease that left her with Hemolytic Anemia. She would like blood donors to know how thankful she is for their gift of life.
Carlos Lanz was robbed at gunpoint and left for dead. Without a blood transfusion, he wouldn’t be here today. “Someone donated blood to save my life. Because of you, I can enjoy life with my wife and my children,” he says. This, is his incredible story.
This last video is also a story of triumph:
Josef Wood, the cutest little bundle of 4-year-old (as of this video) energy you’ll ever see, has Aplastic Anemia. His case was brought on by Epstein Bar, so blood transfusions have been an essential part of this little man’s life! Around his 5th birthday, his body began to make red blood cells on its own, and by June last year he was in full remission!
I researched and found a great deal of stories for this post, but these were my favorites. I prefer to use video when telling another person’s story, most of the time, because it’s more powerful to see the face behind the story than to just read about it.
Have you come across any touching recipient stories? If so, please share!

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bjohnson

A Sometimes Thankless Job

Each and every day at Incept, our staff enters the building with a single mission in mind: saving lives.

As employers, coworkers and friends, we do our best to build programs and set up contests to thanks our employees for the conversations they have and the relationships they build with our nation’s  blood donors. Imagine the impact – on Saturday, August 7 - when the following video was presented to our entire staff by Annetta Morris, Director of the Commit for Life Program at Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center:

http://www.vimeo.com/14037464

There was not a dry eye in the house, to say the least. The power of a thank you is amazing; there’s no doubt about it.  But hearing the words from Annetta, who flew from Houston, TX to Canton, OH to present this video and hand out t-shirts to every Incept employee, was a moving experience. Then there’s Zack. During a recent transfusion, Zack wasn’t feeling well but about halfway through receiving his unit of blood (from an unknown blood donor), Zack immediately began to feel better, and it was his idea to thank those who made him feel better.

“Blessed are those that can give without remembering and receive without forgetting.”
~ Author Unknown

Have you thanked someone today?

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