January 17, 2019
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Beginning July 1, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center will work with Milwaukee-based Versiti Inc., for all of its blood and blood products. Versiti is a national leader in blood health innovation with four blood collection and distribution centers in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin, as well as the Blood Research Institute in Wisconsin, a highly regarded research facility. Versiti Blood Center of Ohio will operate a new blood distribution center in Columbus and coordinate blood donation collections in the community.Ohio State Wexner Medical Center uses approximately 60,000 units of life-saving blood products per year, more than any other local hospital system.
“As one of the top hospitals in the nation, the Midwest’s largest cancer hospital and the area’s only academic medical center, we treat the most complex patients and perform the area’s most complicated treatments and procedures requiring blood and blood products. This will help improve our patient care through innovations and efficiencies,” said Dr. Andrew Thomas, chief clinical officer at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. “We look forward to working with Versiti Blood Center of Ohio to support our highly specialized needs.”
Research and cutting-edge treatments happening in Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center require blood products such as white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. Cell-based immunotherapy, stem cell transplants and bone marrow transplants are just a few of many treatments that utilize blood products. Ohio State also performs complex procedures such as heart, lung, liver and kidney transplants, as well as general and trauma surgeries, and offers specialized treatment for sickle cell and other benign blood disorders. It’s one of two adult Level 1 trauma centers in the region, and the only adult transplant center.
“Unlike typical community hospitals, often we see patients who have rare blood characteristics that are difficult to match. We need a blood provider with precision medicine expertise to efficiently and effectively help us care for our patients,” said Dr. Scott Scrape, a pathologist and director of Transfusion Medicine at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center.
Versiti is a national leader in providing antigen negative blood and in supplying rare and uncommon blood. It’s completed genotyping on more than 100,000 blood donors across Versiti, in order to better match patient transfusion needs. It serves approximately 200 hospitals and academic medical centers in the Midwest.
“We’re extremely proud to partner with an acclaimed health care institution such as The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center,” said Chris Miskel, president and CEO of Versiti. “As blood health innovators with expertise in hematology and transfusion medicine – as well as world renowned research – we’re dedicated to serving the needs of Wexner Medical Center and helping to ensure the best patient outcomes. Through the ongoing generosity of Ohio blood donors, we’re committed to serving as a beacon of hope for even more patients in need.”
This will be the second blood collection and distribution agency in the central Ohio region.
“We believe a second supplier offers the Columbus area greater resources and protections in the event of a disaster. Additionally, it could lead to innovations and improved quality for other hospitals in Ohio,” Thomas said.
Versiti Blood Center of Ohio will soon schedule community blood drives in the Columbus area in order to support Ohio State Wexner Medical Center blood needs before July. Versiti will honor blood donor milestones from other blood collection agencies.
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Media Contact: Marti Leitch, Wexner Medical Center, 614-293-3737 or Marti.Leitch@osumc.edu
Media Contact: Fay Spano, Versiti, 414-937-6124 or Fay.Spano@versiti.org