Complaint Review: United Blood Services Or Blood Systems

I am currently an employee of United Blood Services. In my opinion this company primarily operates to fund the extravagant lifestyle of "Fat Cat" executives who live in the Scottsdale/Phoenix area.

Below is a direct excerpt from their May 2008 Heart-to-Heart newsletter where they report the profit:

"Chief Financial Officer Susan Barnes reported that, with more than $541 million in grossrevenues (13 percent greater than last year), the net income from operations for 2007 was $28.3million for the combined operations of Blood Systems, Blood Centers of the Pacific, andCanyon State Insurance Company, compared to $26.9 million in 2006, with all operating
divisions and the Central Office contributing to this success.
Blood Centers Division President Pat McEvoy presented blood center statistical data using thekey performance indicators. He reported that 2007 was a very successful year with net cellcollections of 1,076,585 exceeding budget. Pat explained that 10 centers achieved their cell
collections goal and financial targets. He reported that there were more than 36,000 additionaldonation events of all types in 2007, an increase of 3.6 percent, and that blood centers continuedto make improvements in customer service ratings from both hospitals and donors. Pat told the
Trustees that 2008 is off to a good start, but cautioned that the demand for blood has been surprisingly high with red blood cells at 5.9 percent and platelets at 13.2 percent above last year"

This organization charges over $200.00 per unit for donated red cells and over $600.00 per dose of donated platelets. However, those of us working at the blood center level notice we never seem to have enough staff to ensure donor saftey and process donors quickly; and our mobile collection buses are constantly wearing out due to age and over-use. Where does the reported 28.3 million dollars in profit from blood sales go? Reviewing public records will clearly demonstrate that much of the cost associated with these high blood prices goes to CEO salary reported to be over $500,000 per year. And this is just one of the "Fat Cat" executives salary.

This organization, in its relentless pursuit of profit through donated blood, harasses, abuses and negelects those working in the donor recruitment part of the organization. The Donor Recruitment department is given extremely high, mostly unattainable goals and then constantly threatend with loss of job when these unreasonable objectives are not met. This organization was contacted by a Donor Recruitment Reform group (DRR-NOW) in the fall of 2006 but the complaints were completely dismissed, and work conditions for Donor Recruitment actually got worse.

United Blood Systems calls itself an independant blood bank working for the good of humanity, but in reality (my educated opinion, again) this organization preys on the good nature and altruristic actions of well meaning individuals to make profit for senior leadership.

This complaint only scratches the surface of the unethical actions of United Blood Services in making "profit" from blood. If media, the general public or even congressional hearings become interested and want to know more about the abuses of United Blood Systems; and potentially other "non-profit" blood organizations misleading the public trust myself and others associated with DRR-NOW will be glad to lend a helping hand to expose the corruption.

How does a non-profit organization have a 'net income' as reported in the May 2008 heart-to-heart newsletter? That is the questions that the IRS, news media and congress should be asking. All the while with workers being abused, harassed beyond belief to collect more blood at all cost and using old out-dated methods equipment in many cases.

Whistle blower
Scottsdale, Arizona
U.S.A.