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St. Pete-, Tallahassee-Based Blood Service Centers Merge

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By TED JACKOVICS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 17, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Two of the state's largest blood centers, Florida Blood Services of St. Petersburg and Southeastern Community Blood Center of Tallahassee, are consolidating, in line with national health care reform initiatives to pool resources and expertise.

Tampa Bay area clients of FBS will see no change in operations or services, spokesman Dan Eberts said this morning.

"By expanding the base of FBS and forming partnerships with other regional blood banks like SCBC, we ensure that we continue to meet the needs of a public blood supply in Florida and the Southeast," Roy Bertke, chairman of the FBS board of directors, says in a written statement.

FBS consolidated with the Northwest Florida Blood Center of Pensacola this year. The addition of SCBC unites the operations of Florida Panhandle, south Georgia, Alabama's Mobile area and Bay area nonprofit, community based blood centers.

FBS provides blood and blood components to 61 hospitals in 14 northwest Florida, southern Alabama and Bay area counties.

After the merger, nearly annual 300,000 volunteer donations will be needed to serve patients at 84 hospitals in 40 counties.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817 or tjackovics@tampatrib.com.

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