Two non-profit blood collection agencies in Iowa are merging. The Des Moines-based Blood Center of Iowa is combining forces with the Siouxland Community Blood Bank, based in Sioux City. Spokeswoman Christine Hayes says the new agency will be known as LifeServe Blood Center. Hayes explains the reasoning behind the merger.
“The whole purpose behind merging with another Iowa-based blood center was to allow us to begin to help lower health care costs and bring additional services to our hospital customers,” Hayes says. “While our name will change, our merger brings together a lot of behind-the-scenes efficiencies that donors and, of course, blood recipients may never even see.”
Hayes said there will be no changes for donors across Iowa who give the so-called gift of life. She says they’ll continue to offer the same, if not more donation opportunities across the region. She says all employees were retained in the merger process and the new agency will employ about 385 people. Hayes said the new agency will cover a large portion of three states.
“The merger between our community-based blood centers positions LifeServe Blood Center to become one of the 15 top blood centers across the country, based on the size and scope of our operation,” Hayes says.
The new agency will be collecting about 156,000 units of blood per year across Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. That blood will serve nearly 90 hospitals in the tri-state region. Both blood centers will transition into the new name over the next 12 months. Learn more about the merger at “www.bloodcenterofiowa.org“.
By Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City