A Perfect Match

Announcing a new alliance to assure future supply of safe, available blood to Midwestern communities

(May 4, 2010) Amid heightened public interest concerning the future of America’s healthcare delivery system, the leaders of two regional Midwestern Blood Centers today announced a merger intended to assure the efficient collection, testing and distribution of our area’s blood resources well into the future.

The new alliance merging Central Illinois Community Blood Center (CICBC), based in Springfield, Ill., and Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center (MVRBC), Davenport, Iowa, will serve 73 hospitals in four states and impact a population exceeding 4.1 million residents. Combined collections for the two centers will total more than 165,000 units annually. No immediate changes will be made in the business names of the two merging partners and all employees will be retained.

“Assuring the always reliable, safe and cost-effective delivery of blood products to the hospitals that serve our families and neighbors will forever be the goal of our regional blood alliance,” said Kevin England, Chair of the CICBC Board of Directors.

Describing the new regional blood alliance as “the perfect match,” England cited the many complementary characteristics of the two organizations and reviewed the longstanding history of cooperation on such areas as technology and staff development.

“Both regional blood centers are strong financially, solid in their communities and respected throughout the industry,” England stated. “We also share exceptional relationships with thousands of donors, as well as outstanding reputations for timely service and absolute safety within the 73 hospitals that we will continue to supply,” he added.

Denise Hollonbeck, Davenport, Iowa, Chair of the MVRBC Board of Directors, identified, “the accelerating pace of change in both the complex regulatory and business environments in which we operate,” as primary reasons behind the merger. “As advanced blood therapies, new processing techniques and testing requirements continue to evolve, the financial and human resources within our new alliance will assure steady supplies and keep our communities ahead of the technology curve,” she said.

Hollonbeck also referenced, as an asset to the new alliance, the just announced Regional Blood Testing Laboratory. Once operational, the new facility will support both organizations with state-of-the-art equipment and highly trained personnel.

David Green, CEO of MVRBC expressed belief that the merger makes good sense both operationally and financially. “Together, the new alliance will benefit from a unique fusion of complementary skills, sharing best practices throughout the new blood alliance. One important outcome we can announce in advance is a substantial annual operational savings that will position us to improve our service and remain competitive and viable for the long term.”

Elaborating on the ability to share strengths within the new partnership, Green said, “We have long admired the Central Illinois operation for their Reference Lab achievements, the excellence of their Primary Donor Room and the exceptional way they have engaged the local medical community. Similarly, we believe MVRBC’s nationally recognized leadership in process control and utilization management, as well as our robust educational programs will also benefit the new alliance.”

Green was quick to point out that no jobs will be lost in the merger. “One big concern of our two community boards is to retain all 500 people presently employed by the two organizations,” he said. “The special training needed to operate effectively within our highly regulated and scientific environment represents a large investment and a major asset of the business. We are pleased that our merger will provide our team members with greater opportunities for professional and personal growth, while also fueling the passion they share for serving the public.”

David Parsons, CEO of CICBC offered his perspective on the new alliance, “The strength of this merger is that we are uniting, for greater efficiency and long-term viability, two organizations that have unbroken records of reliability. Our record of uninterrupted supply is one we intend to extend, through this merger, for decades to come. We are proud to be stewards of this valuable community resource,” he concluded.

According to legal representatives of the two organizations, the announced intention to merge will need to pass through several levels of regulatory approval that typically require a few months to complete. The new, combined Community Board of Directors will complete the legal aspects of the merger this July and the Blood Center will conclude the regulatory processes on or before year’s end 2010.

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For additional information, see:

Combined service region map (1MB .pdf)

At-a-Glance comparison (250kb .pdf)