March Madness – the blood donation version – is underway on the VUMC main campus and One Hundred Oaks, with four entities squaring off to see which entity (by percentage of donors) can donate the most blood at VUMC-sponsored blood drives run by the Red Cross and Blood Assurance during March 21 through April 8.
And just like that other March Madness, there are brackets to consider.
Here’s how it works:
In one bracket, the Adult Ambulatory Clinics (including at OHO) will compete against Vanderbilt University Hospital.
In the other bracket, Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital will take on Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
The contests are to see which entity, by percentage of employees, donates the most blood during upcoming blood drives. Donors will be asked to put a tally mark when they sign in indicating which VUMC entity they represent.
The most prominent drive is held each Monday: Blood Assurance sets up shop from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Vanderbilt University Hospital, Room 2400. Many know this as the Training Conference Center, which is located directly across from the main cafeteria.
There are 65 donation slots to fill each Monday, and much of the blood donated goes back to help VUMC patients. Walk-ins are welcome
The winners of the first round will then take on each other for the championship during the April blood drives. Each round results in a pie in the face of one of the entity leader with the lowest percentage of blood donations – Shon Dwyer of VUH, Tom Nantais of the clinics, Mary Pawlikowski of VPH, or Meg Rush, MD, of Children’s Hospital.
To find out more about VUMC blood drives and to sign up, click here.