" While I agree that giving blood is a life saving thing that all Americans need to do, and do more, I will comment that letting the American Red Cross no longer supply blood to this hospital is yet another mistake the SBLHC has done. I see advertisements all over for American Red Cross blood drives but have yet to see one for this organization. The American Red Cross does so much more to promote themselves. And yes, I have donated to both organizations and given a preference of who to donate with, I would much rather donate to the American Red Cross. Their staff is so much more friendly and much more educated than the staff of Community Blood Services. "

" Iam my self a blood donor. I also prefer to donate to the American Red Cross. You may ask, why? well because I know the American Red Cross is nation wide. I like to believe that the blood I give will help anyone in need, not just the people of this community.
Just one more thing that SBLH has done in "cutting thier nose off to spite thier faces" If they were more about the patients and less about MONEY it may be a better place...
Have a great day!!! "

" While attending a health fair a few years back, I was asked by a representative of Community Blood Services to consider donating blood. When I told the person I wasn't qualified due to a bout with a rare strain of hepatitis, that made it improper for me to donate, the rep from that organization said that was no problem, but I checked with my Doctor and was told that no one who had ever had any type of hepatitis could ever donate blood, period. With that, I have to question the training given to their staff. I do know that the Red Cross is know for its extensive training, and I too, would prefer them to deal with the Red Cross. "

" When is boils down to it, it is about saving money for SBLHC to continue to use CBSI for their services. My question would be, does that savings get passed on down to the patient?? I would bet not. And more people are willing to donate blood to the ARC than CBSI. I really wish the ARC would put together a pitch for the SBLHC folks that would undercut CBSI. Then we would have the more superior organization representing our community rather than these folks who could care less. I mean, think about it, in the local parades, etc you will always see the ARC. Where is CBSI??? Sipping coffee in Urbana?? "

" As a resident of Coles County I have donated blood with both blood agencies and I have learned that CBSI is a network member of Americas Blood Centers, (www.americasblood.org) a Nationwide organiztion that provides over half of the US blood supply. So only by donating to CBSI here in Coles County can a person save lives both locally and nationally.

I do not believe that asking CBSI to supply SBLHC was all done just to save money. Are there really any facts to back up that money was the only reason they switched? I can't imagine they would stay with a provider for over 15 years just to save a few dollars if the ARC was so much better at everything else...

It is true that you see more advertising for ARC disaster services, blood drives and other services. But maybe you are not listening for or seeing the ads for CBSI, because they are out there... I have seen and heard them, but then again I am a donor.

When it comes right down to it, both agencies are regulated by the FDA and must follow some very strict rules and guidelines to stay operational. Both agencies collect blood to save lives and I belive both probably have great training programs for their employees. As for the comment about the CBSI representative telling you that you could donate with hepatitis, I have donated to the ARC at a Mattoon drive both underweight (>110) and with a tattoo...so I guess human error runs rampant at times and re-training is always going to be a necessity.

Regardless of how you feel about the business decisions SBLHC has made, donating blood is very important and it really is not about which agency a person supports, it is about the patients. For me, I will support the one that supplies local and national patients--CBSI. "

" Well said Coles County Resident. I too have donated with both organizations.

But, I think that it is sad, Citizen of Mattoon, that you do not care where your blood donation will go. You may think that it does not matter until you are personally affected by it.

It's interesting to think about how CBSI has been supplying SBLHC for many years and I believe they supply the hospital in Effingham as well. We should be thanking this organization for making sure that the members of this community have a safe blood supply. They are obviously doing something right.

I have heard nothing but positive comments about CBSI and would be more than happy to donate to my fellow community members.
"

" I would think the employees at SBLHC would make better use of their time than posting messages on here. That was soooo transparent. Now how about working on getting your messed up billing department straightened up? "

" Hi CBSI or Coles County Resident,

I guess you could be both for that matter but I definitely think CBSI is behind the reply from the Coles County resident.

Nice try folks.

I feel the Red Cross has a great advertising campaign for all the services they offer. I rarely see anything for CBSI.

I see the Red Cross at most all of the local events where is CBSI in this community?

With the lack of CBSI blood drives I am surprised there is enough blood collected to supply SBLHC. I guess you don’t advertise because SBLHC doesn’t need that much blood which leads me to wonder how much of what CBSI collects is actually used at the national level.

I would think that saving a “few dollars” would be important to SBLHC. And, yes it does appear that the Red Cross is better at everything else.

As for my family and I – we will continue to support the American Red Cross.
"

" Excellant post, Dohbaugh. Gary's kool-aid drinkin sheep to the rescue! "

" Is it unheard of for an individual to be an informed citizen? It sounds like to me that "Reserve Your Comments" has been personally affected by blood donation or maybe needed blood? If people are affected by this health issue or need this particular service I would hope they would become informed. And for the record Coles County Resident does not work for the hospital if that was to whom you were referring. "

" I think this is just another example of SBLHC being divisive in the community. They don't seem to like any national organization that they perceive to be a threat (to their autonomy, to their revenue stream, etc.) or just if one of their board members decides they don't like them. For years the SBLHC bad-mouthed the American Cancer Society and at one point wouldn't even let volunteers of that organization deliver donated flowers to the hospital's cancer patients, while Carle Clinic always embraced the ACS. I think the American Red Cross issue is along the same lines. "

" Then Coles County Resident must work for CBSI if they do not work for SBLHC.

And I really don't think that Citizen of Matton stated they didn't "Care" where their blood went. If you re-read their post, they say they know their blood will go nation wide.

Did anyone see today's paper??? Article for an American Red Cross blood drive. NO MENTION OF ANY DRIVE FOR CBSI. Yet the pro-CBSI posters state they advertise. Perhaps they do advertise for the very few blood drives they have in this area. But they sure do want to toot their horn that they are the supplier of blood to SBLHC. You would think there would be a blood donation opportunity at least once a week to donate with CBSI.

Annie22's post raises a ? with me. Is there any way that we can find out how much blood is used by patients at SBLHC versus how much blood is collected in Coles County? I think it would be interesting to see. I would place bets that the blood collected is LESS than what is used because of the infrequent blood drives CBSI has. "

" Funny that the orginal letter was just to thank the hospital for doing a good thing.

It's sad to know that so many of my fellow community members want to just find fault with their local hospital and make comments totally off the subject.

"

" Actually I am a Union Carpenter just to clear up your continuing confusion as to where I work. As for the donation opportunities in Coles County,they do offer opportunities every week: You can donate with CBSI EVERY Monday, Wednesday and Friday at there donor center in the professional plaza near the hospital. Again I know this because I am a regular blood donor!

So obviously CBSI cares enough about even the local economy to pay rent for space to offer a convenient place for people to donate if they choose to do so. As for how much blood this area uses and/or collects why not call the hospital and ask? For me that is not my motivation to donate. "

" Well of course.... Gary Barnette, Dick Lumpkin.... just to name a couple....
oops, now I've gone & done it....
Ruh Roh! LOL! "

" Coles County Resident -

Get over yourself. Renting space at the Park Plaza does not help the economy. It helps line a certain individual(s) pockets. It may help his or hers economy, but not the economy on the whole.

Furthermore, what is convenient about driving out there to donate blood? It's not convenient for anyone who lives in Mattoon or Charleston or any other surrounding town unless you should happen to live in Loxa.

"

" I wish Mr Lumpkin would allow Carle to build a hospital in Coles county. "

" So what you're saying, Coles County resident, is that having a tattoo and being of small stature means your less than an idea employee? I don't see the correlation. How does that equate to human error? Sounds like a bit of bigotry on your part. Please explain. "

" "Coles County Resident" - if you're a Union Carpenter, I just won the Republican Presidential Primary! Your responses are dripping with classic CBSI propaganda. Clearly you are a CBSI Employee - probably in Donor Relations - since your verbiage is nearly verbatim fom their typical press releases. Pretty transparent and blatantly dishonest.

The bottom line in this discussion is that blood donation is a good thing, no matter which organization you choose to donate with. The blood drive coordinator is a VOLUNTEER who has given of his/her time and talent and has undoubtedly saved lives in the process. This person should be commended regardless of who they are affiliated with. ARC...ABC...it's all red and it all saves lives. I should know. It saved my life once and I could not care less which organization collected it. "

" Honest2Blog wrote:

"The bottom line in this discussion is that blood donation is a good thing, no matter which organization you choose to donate with." Great point!

And if you refer to the original post... "Regardless of how you feel about the business decisions SBLHC has made, donating blood is very important and it really is not about which agency a person supports, it is about the patients..." I clearly agree with you 'Honest2Blog'. Who I donate with is a personal decision and to your point, it saved my fathers life once too. In my posts I did not bash the ARC I simply shared my knowledge because this is a topic that is personally important to me. And as 'Reserve Your Comments' points out, this really was all about thanking a Volunteer for doing a good thing--period. "