The Blood Connection — a blood bank based in Piedmont, S.C., that supplies to multiple hospitals in North Carolina, including Raleigh-based UNC Rex Healthcare, Raleigh-based WakeMed Health & Hospitals and Smithfield-based Johnston UNC Health Care — issued an urgent call for all types of blood donations this week, saying the nationwide flu epidemic has cut blood supplies by more than 10 percent. The organization said it lost about two-days worth of blood supplies from cancelled blood drives.
While supplies have dwindled, officials from the blood bank said there is no shortage or emergency.
“We’re activating a continuity of operations plan, which allows us to avoid a shortage,” said Tracy Bridges, vice president of business development and chief technical officer of The Blood Connection, according to the report. “This is really inventory management.”
More articles on supply chain:
Amazon pushes to become a major hospital supplier: 7 things to know
White House advisers propose fast-tracking reviews of brand-name drugs to lower costs: 6 things to know
Pfizer’s opioid-filled syringes hit another manufacturing snag: 6 things to know
