The RMH Blood Center Story

Since 1950, Rockingham Memorial Hospital has operated a blood bank with the support of and on behalf of the community. Blood drawn from our local donors stays here at home for use by our patients, many of whom are your friends, neighbors or relatives.

As RMH has grown and its services expanded, the need for blood has also grown. In 1993, RMH contracted with Virginia Blood Services, a non-profit community blood center based in Richmond, for its blood testing. This beneficial relationship matured and in 2002, it became a partnership: the RMH Blood Center, a division of Virginia Blood Services.

Services

Our Blood Center now has the capability to provide:

• Red blood cells
• Frozen plasma
• Autologous and directed donations
• Platelet concentrates
• Cryoprecipitate
• Apheresis (single donor platelets)

Quantity

The blood recruitment program at RMH Blood Center has always provided blood in amounts required when needed. No patient has ever been denied blood because of non-availability.

This favorable situation exists because we at RMHBC, along with many generous donors, believe that providing blood for the use of persons who need transfusions is a community opportunity and responsibility. In order to meet the blood needs of our families, friends and neighbors over the course of the year, we must have 5,000 pints of donated blood.

Quality and safety

Giving blood is absolutely safe, and the quality of blood donated to RMHBC is high because of the good health of our donors. We offer a mini physical before each donation to ensure that the donation process is safe for the donor and the recipient.

Donated blood undergoes testing for five infectious diseases before it is processed for use.

It is extremely important for healthy members of our community to continue to provide blood for hospital patients. Your ongoing donations allow the RMH Blood Center to avoid bringing blood in from other parts of the country because of low blood inventories.

Emergency need

RMH Blood Center maintains a list of donors by blood type. In periods of emergency or short supply, you may be called upon to donate a pint of blood to replace blood given to a person in need. We appreciate your donations when called apon.