UK HealthCare

'UK at the Half': The Nationwide Blood Shortage Crisis

Rozan Whaley works inside the UK Chandler Hospital's blood bank. Mark Cornelison | UK Photo
Rozan Whaley works inside the UK Chandler Hospital's blood bank. Mark Cornelison | UK Photo.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 16, 2022) Across the country, hospital systems are struggling with a new crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and a long run of bad weather: a shortage of donor blood.

In this “UK at the Half,” two UK HealthCare physicians explain why blood donations are so crucial not only to the hospital system but to the community. Morgan McCoy, M.D., Ph.D, is the medical director of UK HealthCare’s blood banks, and Zachary Warriner, M.D., is a UK HealthCare trauma surgeon.

As the medical center that cares for the sickest and most injured patients in the region, UK HealthCare uses a substantial amount of blood products. Donated blood is used for many types of patients: those coming in with trauma, premature babies, transplant recipients, cancer patients and more.

In Lexington, blood donations can be made at KBC’s two donor centers in Beaumont and Andover. To find donation sites or mobile drives outside of Lexington, or to schedule an appointment, visit www.kybloodcenter.org/find-a-drive or call 800-775-2522. Face coverings are required while donating. There is no wait time to donate after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

“UK at the Half” airs during halftime of each UK football and basketball game broadcast on radio and is hosted by UK Public Relations and Marketing. To hear the “UK at the Half” interview, click on the play button above. 

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

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