Therapeutic apheresis services provided by a community blood bank

Abstract

Therapeutic apheresis services can be provided from a community-based blood center. The Oklahoma Blood Institute uses a mobile approach, primarily servicing 10 major hospitals in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area within a 15 to 20 mile radius. Apheresis staff and equipment are available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week in the event of patient referral requiring an emergency therapeutic apheresis procedure. This model requires close communication between the therapeutic apheresis medical director and the referring clinician. Telephone and facsimile transmissions of information are used to facilitate the transfer of information to all persons/facilities involved in providing treatment. This approach has proven effective in providing the required procedures for a referral population base of several million people spread over a fairly large geographic area.