Department Spotlight: Blood Bank

Kick off the new year – and National Blood Donor Month – with the Blood Bank team at Renown Health!

Think about the common word “lifeblood.” Many use the word to describe something essential that sustains something else, and without it, that thing cannot survive or exist. Now, why does “blood” come into play with this word? Well, blood itself is an essential part of our bodies that sustains our lives – and like you could probably assume, without it, we could not survive.

This especially comes into play in the healthcare environment. When a patient needs blood, they need it quickly, especially when emergencies rush into northern Nevada’s only level II trauma center, right here at Renown Regional Medical Center. And they don’t only need blood; they need the right type, administered in the right way, at the right time.

That’s precisely where the Blood Bank team at Renown Regional Medical Center comes into play. As a key part of the Transfusion Services department, the Blood Bank manages blood inventories for all 650 beds of the hospital and serves as an essential partner to clinical teams throughout our health system.

Safeguarding the Source of Life

The work of our Blood Bank team begins long before blood reaches a patient’s bedside. These team members meticulously prepare, test and verify every unit of blood to meet strict safety standards. And their dedicated efforts directly affect patient outcomes, and in turn, lives are saved.

The team manages an around-the-clock workload that includes constant communication with clinical teams, conducting high-volume testing and supporting outpatient infusion throughout the day. In 2025 alone, the entire department provided more than 12,000 blood products to over 2,800 patients, supporting care from emergencies to routine surgeries.

The Blood Bank’s focus is always on safety first: every decision is made with patient impact in mind. Many days are steady and routine, with testing and inventory management flowing smoothly. But the team is always prepared for moments that require quick action.

“Every day in the Blood Bank is a thrilling and wonderful experience,” said Jev M., Medical Lab Scientist. “It’s thrilling because you will never know what your day will be; it could be smooth sailing, or it could be busy because of traumas and patients needing a lot of blood transfusions. It’s wonderful because I know that every blood transfusion that we issue is a life saving measure.”

“We handle a high volume of transfusions every day,” added Jenna L., Technical Specialist. “Our team performs both routine and complex testing. Some patients require advanced antibody identification, which takes time and precision. Everything we provide must be U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-compliant, and safety is always our top priority.”

“We’re very hands-on,” added Valeria G., Medical Lab Scientist. “It’s not just about putting specimens in analyzers; we do a lot of complicated manual testing as well.”

When it comes to transfusions, it’s especially important to this team that every rule is followed. They place a high priority on stewardship and best practices for use of blood. Each unit of blood, whether refrigerated or frozen, must be checked for correct type, compatibility and compliance.

“We give our patients the safest products we have possible,” Jenna L. continues. “Verifying that the right blood goes to the right patient is critical. Even a one-milliliter difference can cause harm. That’s why we’re sticklers for the rules.”

“A lot of our work is preparation, doing everything behind the scenes so that if a patient needs cross-matched blood, it’s ready,” added Taylor S., Medical Lab Scientist. “Our emphasis is making sure blood products are delivered safely and efficiently.”

“We’re focused on quality and taking care of patients while ensuring we are not over-transfusing,” added Scott L., Supervisor of Clinical Laboratory. “We follow established transfusion guidelines and act as good stewards of a limited resource.”

To support traumas, the team keeps pre-tagged “red boxes” ready. These boxes are stocked with a combination of whole blood, red cells, plasma and platelets that can be out the door in minutes.

“This preparation ensures acute patients receive lifesaving care without delay,” Scott L. continues. “We always have to be ready for traumas, major bleeds and urgent needs.”

In an emergency, every second counts. This was especially true when patients experiencing gunshot wounds and other injuries from a mass shooting incident came to Renown Regional. Although the team was pushed to its limits, their preparation and teamwork never wavered.

“I supported the gunshot wound incident and post-hemorrhage bleeding events,” said Valeria G. “Some of those shifts were 13 hours long, and collectively the response took over 200 hours of work. Our team was, and still is, very intuitive about each other’s needs, especially during critical moments like this."

“When I walked into the lab during the response, there were four gunshot wound patients actively being treated – but you wouldn’t even have known it by looking at the Blood Bank,” added Scott L. “They were calm and collected. You couldn’t even tell what was happening, and that speaks volumes about the team.”

From trauma responses to everyday transfusion support, the Blood Bank team is key to the lifesaving work happening at Renown.

“I am proud to be a part of a team that provides quality healthcare to all residents of Nevada, especially those in need,” said Joann B., Senior Medical Lab Scientist.

A Healthier Nevada

As an academic health system, Renown aligns closely with the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine’s vision to build a healthier Nevada. Our Blood Bank team is no exception. They may not be on the frontlines of patient-facing care, but they are on the frontlines of bolstering the health and well-being of our community.

One of the most significant ways they work towards a healthier Nevada is by encouraging people to give the gift of blood. Blood shortages can happen, but by having more blood donations, shortages have the potential to become few and far between.

“Only about 3% of eligible people donate blood,” said Jenna L. “We work closely with pathologists during blood shortages to prioritize patients and ensure we can continue serving the community. We always encourage people to donate blood when they can.”

“We are the blood drive coordinators,” added Scott L. “We partner closely with Vitalant to coordinate blood drives and ensure a steady supply. For 2026, we already have multiple drives scheduled across our hospital locations.”

Innovation is also a core part of Renown’s value of Excellence, and the Blood Bank is one of the teams that is leading the way. As of Jan. 5, 2026, they've started providing neonatal red boxes for the NICU, enabling rapid access to carefully prepared units for our tiniest patients. On top of that, the team continues to partner closely with the Renown Transplant Institute and Nevada Donor Network to provide blood products for patients undergoing kidney transplantation.

“Our growth and volume of work give me a lot of pride,” said Joann B. “I love supporting the Nevada Donor Network and being a part of a team that supports transplant services to the northern Nevada area.”

And the community outreach just keeps on coming. Last year, Renown helped facilitate blood drives that provided 143 units of blood which helped save 429 lives. In 2026, Renown will host six blood drives at Renown Regional and two drives at Renown South Meadows Medical Center. Stay tuned to our social media profiles for more information!

People First Passion

So, why bring all those highly sought after transfusion skills to a not-for-profit health system like ours? The answer to that question is simple for our Blood Bank team: the people. Renown’s strong focus on uplifting its people and investing in advanced technology and services directly impacts this team’s abilities to save even more lives.

“Renown’s People First mindset and its commitment to patients and employees is something I haven’t seen elsewhere,” said Scott L. “On top of that, I enjoy the ability to work with advanced technology and bring on more innovative testing. In fact, we are constantly bringing in more testing methods to better serve our community.”

At Renown, we are incredibly fortunate to have the Blood Bank team members that we do. These employees bring a wealth of knowledge from all over the world right here to Reno-Tahoe. Some are native to northern Nevada, were exposed to the department while in school and/or are long-time Renown employees who moved over from other teams. Others came from the opposite side of the planet to care for patients right here in our community.

“I started my career in 2007 and have been in the profession for 18 years,” said Jev M. “I started working at the Philippine Red Cross Regional Blood Center and have been loving blood bank ever since. In 2016, CHI St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center in Arkansas had given me an opportunity to live and work here in the U.S., and I spent nine years there. Then, I was hired by Renown and moved to Reno.”

“I have a bachelor's degree in communication and marketing and another bachelor's degree in applied science,” added Joann B. “I’ve been a part of the Transfusion Services department ever since 2020 and was promoted to Senior Medical Lab Scientist in 2024.”

“Valeria and I both rotated through the Blood Bank as students, and that experience is what ultimately kept us here,” added Jenna L.

“I like how fast-paced the Blood Bank is,” added Taylor S.

All in all, this is a team that thrives under pressure. Whether they’re responding to an emergency, managing blood shortages or preparing for the unexpected, the Blood Bank team members’ precision and deep trust in one another make a lifesaving difference every single day.

“I am so proud to be a part of a team that works to give back to the community and support accessible healthcare,” closes Joann B.