Blood Assurance is expanding and serving more hospitals in the Middle Tennessee area

Local non-profit blood center, Blood Assurance, is now serving the TriStar Health hospitals and facilities in the Nashville and the surrounding areas. On July 1, they became the provider of blood and blood products to these area hospitals.

“We are excited and proud to serve more patients and hospitals in the Nashville and surrounding communities,” said J.B. Gaskins, C.E.O. and president at Blood Assurance. “We are a local blood provider and when donors give with us their blood is guaranteed to go to patients in our region. We are very proud of this and look forward to serving the Middle Tennessee area.”

Blood Assurance will be holding a mobile blood drive in Rutherford County at TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center from 10:00 am-2:00 pm on Thursday, September 10, 2020. To schedule an appointment contact Bob Murray at bobmurray@bloodassurance.org or visit
bloodassurance.org/TristarStoneCrest.

To be eligible to donate blood, you must be at least 17 years old (16 years old with parental consent), weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good health. Donors are asked to drink plenty of fluids – avoiding caffeine – and eat a meal that is rich in iron prior to donating.

Blood Assurance is also currently conducting antibody testing for all blood donors during the Mobile Blood Drive and is encouraging anyone who thinks they may have had COVID-19 to come in and be tested. The antibodies produced by individuals who have recovered from the virus are a critical treatment needed by Middle Tennessee patients suffering from COVID-19. The antibody rich plasma could be the difference between life and death for a patient in need. If you have been officially diagnosed with COVID-19, have been symptom free for at least fourteen days and are able to pass all regular blood donation requirements, you could save lives. If you meet these requirements and would like to donate convalescent plasma, please visit bloodassurance.org/covidplasma.

Blood Assurance is continuing to take extra precautions at this time to ensure the safety of donors and staff. Staff are wearing masks and frequently disinfecting all items and surfaces used by donors. They are also accepting donors by appointment only and these appointments are being spaced apart to ensure adequate distance. Masks are required for all donors as well. If a donor does not have a mask, Blood Assurance will have some available. Blood donation is essential to the infrastructure of healthcare and the only way to ensure patients have the blood they need is for people to donate. Blood cannot be manufactured and all blood used in community hospitals is from volunteer donors.