Memorial Blood Centers and Nebraska Community Blood Bank to Form Innovative Blood Resources

ST. PAUL, Minn. and LINCOLN, Neb., July 25, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Two well-known, nationally-recognized blood centers, Nebraska Community Blood Bank (NCBB), Lincoln, NE and Memorial Blood Centers (MBC), St. Paul, MN, are pleased to announce the formation of a new blood services organization effective August 1, 2012. The two community-based non-profits will operate as divisions of the newly formed Innovative Blood Resources organization. 

"The name Innovative Blood Resources reflects our commitment to excellence in blood services. Our primary goal is to ensure blood is always there for the patient in the most efficient way," noted Phyllis Ericson, CEO of the Nebraska Community Blood Bank.

Each organization is focused on their founding mission of providing a safe blood supply for the hospitals they serve. The new relationship between NCBB and MBC will provide the resources needed to meet future economic and healthcare changes. Today's economy, as well as healthcare reform, is requiring medical entities, particularly blood centers, to look at new ways of doing business. 

Donald C. Berglund, CEO of Memorial Blood Centers will also serve as CEO of Innovative Blood Resources. Ericson, will take on additional responsibilities as COO of the new organization while remaining President of the Nebraska division. Oversight of Innovative Blood Resources will be by a combined Board of Directors representing NCBB and MBC.

The combination of the two blood centers represents over 100 years of experience and service. "Our combined strengths will allow us to increase service capabilities while providing value-driven solutions to hospitals and other healthcare partners," added Berglund.

Innovative Blood Resources will continue the MBC and NCBB commitments of serving the common good by delivering quality blood products and services that help to save the lives of patients. The merger will join existing sound business practices, and a wealth of extremely talented staff dedicated to delivering superior customer service.

About NCBB: The Nebraska Community Blood Bank has been Connecting People ~ Saving Lives for 44 years. Today, hospitals in six counties depend on NCBB to provide the blood that is needed. For more information, visit www.NCBB.org or call 877-486-9414.

About MBC:  Memorial Blood Centers has been saving lives for over 60 years as an independent nonprofit blood center supplying life-saving blood to local hospitals and other partners throughout the U.S. Operating 11 donor centers and conducting hundreds of blood drives each month, MBC also provides comprehensive testing and expert technical services as a national leader in transfusion medicine. For more information, call 1-888-GIVE-BLD or visit www.MBC.org.

Both organizations are licensed by the Food and Drug Administration, accredited by the AABB and certified by the European Union. Additionally, MBC and NCBB are members of America's Blood Centers, North America's largest network of community-based, non-profit blood centers. 

SOURCE Memorial Blood Centers