Blood Centers Announce Merger

July 31, 2015

OneBlood, Inc. which includes the local area blood bank, is merging effective July 31 with The Blood Alliance, Inc.

The newly formed organization will distribute more than one million blood products annually, serve over 210 hospitals throughout most of Florida, parts of Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina and employ more than 2,400 people.

“The landscape of the blood industry is rapidly changing and it demands that we continue to evolve and diversify to meet the needs of our hospital partners and their patients,” said Don Doddridge, President and Chief Executive Officer of OneBlood. “We are confident that the merger will have a positive impact in further defining the new template for the future of our industry and ensuring our communities have a progressive, forward-thinking local blood center that is here to serve for years to come,” said Doddridge.

More stringent transfusion protocols, health care reform and advances in medical science are all helping shape a new era of blood banking.

“Bringing the two organizations together is the right thing to do for our communities,” said Dr. Marsha Bertholf, Medical Director of The Blood Alliance. “We can no longer rely on the business models of the past to take us where we need to go in the future.  Hospitals want larger scale blood centers to serve their multiple locations and the merger will allow us to accommodate their needs and still keep the hometown connection,” said Bertholf.

In addition to mitigating cost to hospitals and patients, the merger is expected to bring additional operational efficiencies and further stabilize the blood supply, especially in times of natural disasters such as hurricanes and enhance donor outreach initiatives.

OneBlood CEO, Don Doddridge, who began his blood banking career in Jacksonville, will lead the newly merged organization and an 11 member board of directors will provide oversight, governance and guidance.

Integration of the two organizations will begin immediately.  In addition, The Blood Alliance will undergo a rebranding phase in the coming months and transition to the OneBlood brand.

OneBlood is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) community asset responsible for providing safe, available and affordable blood to more than 200 hospital partners and their patients throughout most of Florida and into parts of southern Georgia and Alabama.

OneBlood was established on January 27, 2012 when three of Florida’s independent, not-for-profit blood centers merged, including the Northwest Florida Blood Center. Together, OneBlood brings more than 100 years of lifesaving experience to the community. OneBlood distributes nearly one million blood products annually, employs more than 2,000 people, operates more than 70 donor centers and deploys nearly 200 of its signature Big Red Buses throughout its service area for blood drives.  T

Pictured: The OneBlood “Big Red Bus” at the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

One Response to “Blood Centers Announce Merger”

  1. Mario on August 3rd, 2015 3:13 pm

    Oneblood sure has become aggressive in taking over Florida. After the last big merger with all the personnel layoffs and consolidation, how do they think this will be a good move.

    When they complete their monopolistic TAKE OVER of the South Florida blood industry, their hospitals will surely see the rise in fees when their is only ONE BLOOD option left.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News