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In an effort to improve efficiency and expand collection volume, the Blood Donor Center at BWH has merged with the Kraft Center at Dana-Farber.
The joined facilities, located on the first floor of the Jimmy Fund Building, will now be known as the Kraft Family Blood Donor Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women's Hospital. Beginning this week, all blood donations will be collected in the Kraft Center.
"The Kraft Family Blood Donor Center collects not just platelets, but also whole blood and red blood cells," said Richard Kaufman, MD, medical director of Adult Transfusion Medicine in the Joint Program in Transfusion Medicine.
Since 2001, the transfusion needs of patients at Dana-Farber and BWH have been met by a single program in two locations. Historically, platelets have been collected at the Kraft Family Blood Donor Center, which was named in 1984 through a generous gift from the family of DFCI Trustee Robert Kraft and the late BWH Trustee Myra Kraft. Red blood cells and whole blood donations were collected by the BWH center.
The merger will streamline operations, more efficiently utilize staff and supplies, and provide donors with improved access to parking and valet services.
"With this merger, we'll become one of the largest blood donor centers in New England," said Linda Perry, blood donor recruiter. "The merger will foster continued growth as we work to support BWH and DFCI patients' transfusion needs, which is the reason why we are here."
Kraft Center staff will also carry out therapeutic apheresis procedures and peripheral blood stem cell collections. Such treatments involve collecting, exchanging or replacing blood components, such as plasma and red blood cells. Stem cell collections are used for bone marrow transplant or for making customized vaccines for reinfusion.
Regular donors will continue to have the same recurring appointment times. Appointment duration will also remain the same: about 45 minutes for whole blood donation (only 15 minutes is required for the actual collection) and 90 minutes for platelet donations.
To donate blood or platelets, call 888-LETSGIV (888-538-7448), or e-mail blooddonor@partners.org. For more information, visit www.brighamandwomens.org/about_bwh/blooddonation/default.aspx.