On June 18, 2009, Children’s National Medical Center dedicated a new Edward J. Miller, Sr., Blood Donor Center, which provides an invaluable service to many patients who need blood products. Children’s National is one of a handful of children’s hospitals nationwide to have an in-house blood donor center.
Features of the New Center
The new Blood Donor Center is larger, brighter, and more open than the previous space.
The center is designed to enable staff to see every donor from anywhere in the center, throughout the entire donation process.
The center also is designed to make the donation process smoother for donors.
Now, donors move counter clockwise through the center— from registration to screening, collection, refreshments, and scheduling the next donation appointment.
An additional donor bed allows for up to two additional platelet donors each day, for a total of up to 44 donors each month.
Gallery: Blood Donor Center Construction
Images from the construction of the new Edward J. Miller, Sr., Blood Donor Center
The Blood Donor Center first opened in 1990 at Children’s National. In 2006, Children’s National began a mobile donation program with the Bloodmobile. The Bloodmobile travels to Washington, DC, area businesses and community centers to host blood drives.
On average, each month 248 patients receive red blood cells transfusions and 191 patients receive platelets. Many patients receiving blood products have cancer, blood diseases, are undergoing surgery and organ transplantation, or were in accidents. Children needing cardiac surgery require fresh blood less than 7 days old.
Appointments to donate whole blood or platelets can be made online. To schedule a blood drive with the Bloodmobile, call 202.476.KIDS (5437).
