BLOOD BANK

Blood Bank. An effective method of preserving and transfusing human blood and its components. In October, 1949 Mother Mary Ursula, the Mother Superior and superintendent of Mercy Hospital announced the establishment of Dubuque's first blood bank. Dr. E.T. Thorsnes, R.L. Hasselquist, and M.L. Gibson and nine others formed the original board of trustees.

The announcement stated that the bank would soon be functioning with approximately fifty "flasks", each holding a pint of human blood. Volunteer donors came from the JOHN DEERE DUBUQUE WORKS with 1,213 members types for future blood needs. By 1954 there were 7,000 blood-typed members. These people furnished the initial supply of all types of blood for the bank which would be operated by maintaining a constant balance between withdrawals and deposits.

Blood obtained from the bank for patients had to be repaid with blood and could not be purchased directly from the bank for cash. The blood for replacement had to be obtained from either a family donor or from a professional donor paid by the patient as soon as any blood was withdrawn. Arrangements were made to develop sources of blood to make up withdrawals when blood was out of date or when a recipient had neither family or friends to serve as donors. While the supply was mainly for Dubuque purposes, there was a collaboration with out-of-town hospitals. If donors themselves or their relatives became patients in other cities, blood would be shipped there. The donor paid only a small service and hospital administration charge and not the additional $25 per pint used.