Note: A previous version of this article incorrectly listed Holston Valley Medical Center’s next blood drive as Thursday, June 19. The correct date for this drive is Thursday, June 29 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Marsh Regional Blood Center is offering a fun extra incentive to promote blood donations throughout May and June.
Any team member who donates blood during any of our hospital blood drives during May or June will receive a Marsh blood donor badge lapel pin.
- The lapel pin is also available to donors who may not be eligible to give on the dates listed. Please visit your closest drive to receive your pin.
- Pins will be available in all of Marsh Regional’s donor centers, located in Bristol, Johnson City and Kingsport.
Blood donations from team members play a key part in serving our patients throughout the region. Last year, Ballad Health team members donated 2,569 pints of blood, impacting up to 7,707 local lives.
Bristol Regional setting a high bar
Bristol Regional Medical Center has set a high bar – last year bringing in 785 team member and community donations.
Becky Blevins, manager of volunteer services at Bristol Regional Medical Center and the hospital’s blood drive coordinator, has championed the cause. Becky has been with Bristol Regional for 32 years – including three years at the previous hospital before the current one was built – and she has served in her blood drive coordinator role since 2009.
She remembers when the hospital got a total of 153 donations for 2009 – so they’ve come a long way to nearly 800!
“It’s been a team effort all the way,” Becky said. “I am so proud of these donors and the way they have stepped up. And Connie Denton with Marsh Blood does a great job working the drives, she’s always there for us!”
The donor mix ranges from longtime team members to young ones like residents and nurse interns. Nurses make up a big portion, as they see on a daily basis how important the blood supply is for their patients. Becky also remembers a young family who lost a loved one in ICU after a prolonged stay at the hospital, and about eight of the family members promptly came down to donate blood in memory of their loved one.
Becky’s mother was a dedicated blood donor for many years and that inspired Becky to take on the role of blood drive coordinator – a position that was supposed to be for only one year, but has now stretched on for 14 years.
“I’ve tried to just do my part. I enjoy it. Team members will see me coming down the hall and they’ll say, ‘I promise I’ll give; I couldn’t make it this time, but I’ll do it next time!’ ” she said with a laugh.
Bristol Regional tries to hold a hospital blood drive on the second Friday of each month. They maintain a Marsh Regional table in the lobby with blood drive information and signage, plus a mannequin that models the latest Marsh T-shirt. The hospital also makes an announcement throughout the building whenever a blood drive is going on.
Thank you to the team members at Bristol Regional Medical Center, and to all facilities and team members across Ballad Health who support Marsh Regional Blood Center!
Upcoming hospital blood drives
Here are the remaining Marsh Regional Blood Center hospital blood drives for the rest of May and June:
May
- Unicoi County Hospital – Friday, May 19, noon-5 p.m.
- Norton Community Hospital – Tuesday, May 23, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Johnston Memorial Hospital – Wednesday, May 24, 2-6 p.m.
- Holston Valley Medical Center – Thursday, May 25, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
June
- Russell County Hospital – Tuesday, June 6, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Bristol Regional Medical Center – Friday, June 9, 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
- Franklin Woods Community Hospital – Tuesday, June 13, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Smyth County Community Hospital – Tuesday, June 13, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Sycamore Shoals Hospital – Thursday, June 15, noon-6 p.m.
- Johnson County Hospital – Monday, June 19, noon-5 p.m.
- Lonesome Pine Hospital – Tuesday, June 20, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Johnson City Medical Center – Wednesday, June 21, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Johnston Memorial Hospital – Wednesday, June 28, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Holston Valley Medical Center – Thursday, June 29, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
