Suncoast Blood Centers CEO Scott Bush noted in a news release that the blood bank inventory is at its lowest level in a decade. Only 3% of the eligible donor population are coming in to give the gift of life, which makes the shortage of product a real concern,” he added.
That response rate may not even prove to be the nadir for the nonprofit but it does reflect a troubling trend.
Decline in donor population
Twenty years ago, Leonard said, roughly 15% of the population donated blood.
The most recent decline can be traced to mid-March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down businesses and schools where blood bank mobile units could routinely visit for connect with willing donors.
Three area hospitals earned the federal government’s top overall rating after dealing with the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic over the past year.
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, Sarasota Memorial Hospital and Doctors Hospital of Sarasota each received five-star ratings in the latest evaluation from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
CMS issued hospitals an overall quality and safety rating ranging from one to five stars. The federal agency rated the facilities on five main categories: mortality, safety, readmission, patient experience, and timely and effective care.
The local hospitals were among 455 nationally to garner five-star ratings, given to less than 10% of eligible facilities. On the other hand, some 200 hospitals across the country received one-star ratings.