One Blood, the main provider of blood services to the Pensacola region is expanding its reach in the southeast. Susan Forbes, the Vice president for Marketing and Communications for One Blood says they are merging with The Blood Alliance, a Jacksonville based non-profit that provides blood to more than 30 hospitals in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. The merger is complete as of July 31.
Forbes says that the addition of the Blood Alliance will help keep the blood supply stable in times of need. "Say there's a hurricane or tropical storm coming into South Florida. Well, other parts of the state aren't being impacted at that time, they're able to stay operational. So you're able to keep collecting the blood (by) having those other (regions) in your service area."
Susan Forbes also says that the merger will help keep a consistent message across the state as they continue to look for blood donations.
The merged companies will operate under the name One Blood and over the next few months all facilities of The Blood Alliance will transition to that name. Don Doddridge, the CEO of One Blood will continue to lead the merged companies with an 11 member board of doctors. With the merger, one blood will now serve over 210 hospitals and medical facilities in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama.