MURRAY, KY (KFVS) - The in-house blood bank at Murray-Calloway County Hospital has been in place since the 1970s when a group of Lions Club members organized a fundraising effort to open it.
According to MCCH, the center offers a safe, FDA approved supply of blood to the hospital, making it fast and inexpensive for a patient to receive blood.
The hospital says blood products can cost more than $600 per unit when ordered from outside blood banks. Having the donor center allows MCCH to save on the cost of some of these products and put the money toward other health care improvements.
A hospital the size of MCCH goes through an average of 180 to 200 unites of blood per month, and with a shelf life of 35 days, it is important to keep a steady supply of blood.
"The community support is very good," said Beth Wiggins, donor recruiter. "We do regular drives at several businesses and churches, as well as the local high schools.
