SwedishAmerican is pleased to announce a new partnership project with the Rock River Valley Blood Center (RRVBC) entitled “Thank the Donor.” “Thank the Donor” allows recipients of blood transfusions the opportunity to send anonymous messages to the person who donated the blood they received.
The new program launched Monday at the SwedishAmerican Regional Cancer Center and will be integrated into all areas involving blood transfusions in the health system next week. SwedishAmerican is the first hospital in Rockford to participate.
“The SwedishAmerican Regional Cancer Center is very excited to partner with the Rock River Valley Blood Center and their Thank the Donor program,” said Natalie Wilson, Director of the Regional Cancer Center. “The Thank the Donor program is an easy way for our patients and families to send a message to a donor to thank them, which is something they may have always wanted to do but couldn’t until now. This program also gives much needed recognition to donors who selflessly give for someone in need.”
All red cell and platelet products will be tagged with green heart reminders with information for patients on how to register. Patients or their loved ones are directed to ThankTheDonor.org to send their personal message. No names or hospital identification are shared.
“Rock River Valley Blood Center is excited to have SwedishAmerican Health System as its first hospital partner in our region to implement the “Thank the Donor” program,” said Linda Gerber, CEO at the Rock River Valley Blood Center. “In fact, RRVBC and SwedishAmerican are the first in the Midwest to provide a way for patients and their families to thank their specific blood donor. While RRVBC has always thanked donors on behalf of patients; this program allows a donor to “hear” directly the impact their gift had on the lives of others. Although the program is anonymous, it connects blood donors to patients, something that hasn’t been possible in modern healthcare.”
| For more information, visit ThankTheDonor.org or call the RRVBC at 815-965-8751. |
About SwedishAmerican
A division of UW Health, SwedishAmerican is dedicated to providing excellence in healthcare and compassionate care to the community. The organization serves residents of 12 counties in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin through a dedicated and caring staff, a major acute care hospital and a free-standing outpatient cancer center in Rockford, a medical center in Belvidere, a network of 30 primary care and multi-specialty clinics and the region’s largest home healthcare agency. Additionally, SwedishAmerican has achieved Magnet® recognition as a reflection of its nursing professionalism, teamwork and superiority in patient care.
About Rock River Valley Blood Center
Rock River Valley Blood Center was founded in 1952, as Northern Illinois Blood Bank, by; the Winnebago County Medical Society, St. Anthony Hospital, SwedishAmerican Hospital and Rockford Memorial Hospital, to ensure a robust and reliable community blood supply in support of patients receiving innovative medical and surgical interventions. Today, RRVBC continues that community focus as the sole provider of blood to patients at; Jovan Bae Hospital-Rockton, Jovan Bae Hospital-Riverside, OSF-St. Anthony Medical Center, SwedishAmerican Health System, SwedishAmerican Medical Center-Belvidere, Rochelle Community Hospital, FHN, Beloit Health System, and Edgerton Hospital and Health Services.