It seems like there is always a demand for blood donations, and you would think that blood drives would be the perfect candidate for a new smartphone app. Even though healthcare is beginning to embrace mobile technology, the blood donation business prefers to keep its “old-fashioned” system, according to a new report on Mashable.
Blood donation centers have chosen to opt out of the rising action of today’s technological dependence, Yohana Desa of Mashable News says. Donation centers seem to “prefer personal attempts” when trying to recruit potential donors. Using phone calls to alert donors about a drive in their area or to remind them that they are once again eligible to donate, donation groups believe these personal attempts at recruitment are better for business.
As of 2012, 50% of the people who donated to blood centers said they did so because they received a phone call from the American Red Cross. The other 50% attended blood drives organized by companies, community or religious organizations, and schools, which publicized their efforts via word of mouth and social media.
“The good old telephone is still very much in use,” Kathleen Rowe, director of plasma and market development at Blood Centers of America says. “What is effective about the phone call is that personal touch.”
Only about 10% of the U.S. population who qualify as eligible donors donate blood annually. This number is also limited by donation restrictions such as acquiring new piercings, traveling out of the country, and receiving immunization injections. With such a low number of donations received in a year and such a high demand for blood, the blood donation industry might want to take a look at what other medical donation companies are doing in order to boost their numbers, even if it’s not what blood donation groups are comfortable with.
Other medical donation 0rganizations, such as organ and bone marrow, are beginning to adapt to the social media era. In 2012 Facebook launched a feature allowing users to post and alert their friends that they are a “Registered as an Organ Donor.” This feature resulted in not only the 57,451 updated profiles, but also the 13,012 new online registered donors with the Department of Motor Vehicles. An impact this large, from one simple social media outlet, could benefit the world of blood donation greatly. Maybe it’s time for the Red Cross and other donation outlets to jump on the technological bandwagon to optimize donations and productivity.
Thanks to people like Chris Yoko, founder of the Blood Donor Mobile app, it is becoming easier and easier to donate blood. The app sends alerts whenever there is a blood drive nearby, reminds the user when it’s time to donate again, and allows a donor to post news of the life-saving gift to social media.
So what’s the current solution to satisfying the constant high demand for blood if it isn’t more technology? According to the Mashable article, the answer seems a combination of the personal calls and new applications are the best fit for today’s needs. The personal touch allows donors to feel wanted and needed while the technological aspect provides a source for reminders, sharing, and accessibility.
