ESCANABA — The Community Blood Center (CBC) of Appleton, Wis., has been designated by OSF HealthCare to provide blood and blood components to OSF HealthCare St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group. Located in Appleton, CBC has served as the primary blood supplier to hospitals throughout the Fox Valley, the Wisconsin Northwoods, and portions of the Upper Peninsula since 1955.

The partnership was effective March 1, and has been a smooth transition for OSF St. Francis Hospital. “We have really had a great experience transitioning to the Community Blood Center and are excited to foster this partnership and be a part of CBC’s expansion into Delta County for the benefit of our patients,” said Dave Lord, president of OSF St. Francis Hospital.

John Hagins, President and CEO of The Community Blood Center shares in the excitement for this new partnership. “The partnership further underscores the commitment of our mission to ‘Connect Lives, Share Life.’ Becoming the sole provider of blood products for the patients of OSF St. Francis Hospital is a responsibility that we welcome and take seriously.”

With this new partnership, patients in Delta County will have the benefit of a dependable blood supply from a nearby organization that hosts over 100 mobile blood drives monthly, including in the U.P.

“Community support is essential to ensuring a strong and stable blood supply for the hospitals we serve,” said Hagins. “We are fortunate to work with generous volunteer blood donors and blood drive sponsors throughout our service region and look forward to making new connections in the South Central U.P.”

“The need for blood donors and a viable source of blood supply is ever present. We look forward to our partnership with CBC and to future blood drives to continue to provide our patients with one of the most essential needs in health care,” said Lord.