American Red Cross announces layoffs, ends bloodmobile in Central and Western Massachusetts

Blood donation

The American Red Cross will no longer have mobile blood collection services in Central and Western Massachusetts. Here, a woman holds onto a ball as she donates blood during a Red Cross blood drive at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Kalamazoo, Mich., on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (Chelsea Purgahn/Kalamazoo Gazette)

SPRINGFIELD — As it lays off 52 workers, the American Red Cross will no longer have mobile and community blood drives in central and Western Massachusetts, the organization confirmed Monday, making official a decision announced back in August as only tentative.

The Red Cross is eliminating the bloodmobile collections to save money, management said in a statement. The Red Cross will still collect blood at its centers in Springfield and Worcester.

The layoffs will take effect in Springfield and Worcester by Nov. 8, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act notice it filed last week with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.

Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton said it buys 80% of its blood and blood products from the American Red Cross and the Red Cross mobile unit comes to the hospital for donation drives. While it has access to ample supplies of blood for critically ill patients, Cooley Dickinson said the Red Cross decision is concerning because it might mean less blood donations overall.

“It would likely impact how much blood is donated from local residents,” a statement from the hospital reads. “The availability of the amount and types of blood needed is a national concern. Reducing the supply will only exacerbate this shortage and thus has the potential for impacting health care services across the region and in the country.”

Other area health care providers said they will continue their own blood donation efforts.

In a statement Monday, the Red Cross encouraged blood and platelet donors to continue giving at donation centers in Springfield at 150 Brookdale Drive and Worcester at 381 Plantation St.

The Red Cross will continue to run blood drives at community locations until Nov. 8, spokeswoman Kelly Isenor said.

“This decision will not affect the availability of Red Cross blood products for those in need nor our blood collection operations in the rest of the Commonwealth,” Isenor said. “We are committed to doing the most we can to help make this transition as smooth as possible and will also continue to work with the local unions to address issues collaboratively.”

In Springfield, Baystate Health will continue to collect blood through its traveling bloodmobile that’s on the road as many as five days a week, as well as at its donor center at 759 Chestnut St. in Springfield, said Amy Osgood, Baystate’s blood donor recruiter.

"The decision by the American Red Cross to discontinue mobile blood collection operations will not impact Baystate Health’s ability to treat its patients," Osgood said.

Any organization or business looking to host the Baystate Health Blood Donor Mobile can call Osgood at 413-322-4125.

Those interested in donating blood can visit the Baystate Health Blood Donor Center or reference the bloodmobile schedule at baystatehealth.org/services/blood-donor. Walk-ins are always welcome, but appointments are given priority and can be made by calling 413-794-4600. All eligible donors will receive a complimentary Big E or Six Flags New England ticket.

In order to donate blood or platelets you must be at least 17 years old, in good health, weigh at least 110 pounds and have a photo ID. Donors are able to give platelets every two weeks and blood every eight weeks. Donating platelets takes 60 to 120 minutes.

Holyoke Medical Center has its own blood donation center, said Rebecca MacGregor, director of marketing. Holyoke Medical Center uses blood from its own blood bank first before buying from outside. More information on donating in Holyoke can be found at holyokehealth.com.

“I would like to emphasize that the blood donors have a place to continue their blood donations goals and blood is desperately needed. We encourage the community to keep donating, to come join our facility, and to call us or walk-in for convenient appointments,” said Marlene Feliciano, Holyoke Medical Center Blood Bank supervisor

UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester has a platelet collection program in its blood services unit, according to a spokesman.

Mercy Medical Center in Springfield says on its website it collaborates with the Red Cross and all blood donation opportunities and blood drives will be coordinated through the Red Cross. No one was available Monday to talk about blood donations at Mercy.

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