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Although Cooley Dickinson Hospital has taken the necessary corrective action steps that have met the outside regulatory agencies’ expectations, the hospital has made the decision to close its blood donor program.

Cooley Dickinson Hospital needs to put its resources into those services that only a community hospital can provide, and services such as blood acquisition are best left to agencies that have a greater economy of scale and can give a higher degree of specialization. This is a decision many community hospitals have already made.

The decision to close the blood donor program comes at a time when Cooley Dickinson and most community hospitals across the state are pressed by escalating health care costs and decreasing payments.

For an interim supply of blood for surgery and transfusions, Cooley Dickinson Hospital has contracted with an outside agency to access blood supplies. For the longer term, Catherine Reed, director of Laboratory Services, is speaking with agencies that specialize in blood donor programs.

Says Reed, “We know and appreciate that there are many people in this community who are committed to donating blood. While discussions are preliminary, we are working with several outside agencies who may fill this need locally.”

The blood donor program includes services at the hospital as well as Cooley Dickinson’s Blood Mobile, which offered blood collection services at area businesses.

The closure of the blood donor program will be effective Friday, Oct. 30, 2009.