LifeStream Adds Permanent Blood Donation Site Near Wildomar, Hemet

HEMET, CA — LifeStream permanent blood donation centers have been established across Riverside County through the Desert Care Network.

That organization's chief executive officer and Rancho Mirage Eisenhower Health's chief operating officer, jointly donated blood Thursday in an effort to highlight the critical need for blood donations.

LifeStream has fixed-site donor centers in: San Bernardino, Riverside, Ontario, Victorville, Murrieta, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage, Placentia and Hemet, according to that organization.

LifeStream also conducts about 1,700 mobile blood drives annually throughout its service area at schools, churches, businesses, government offices, hospitals and service clubs.

Desert Care Network CEO Michele Finney and Eisenhower Health COO Ken Wheat donated blood at LifeStream's Rancho Mirage Donor Center, spokesperson Lee Rice with Eisenhower Health told City News Service.

"LifeStream is proud to have such dedicated partners and champions for community health in Michele and Ken," said LifeStream President/CEO & Medical Director Dr. Rick Axelrod in a statement. "We hope their joint donations on Thursday encourage local blood donors to come out and give the gift of blood."

LifeStream provides blood to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage and JFK Memorial Hospital in Indio, according to a statement from LifeStream. LifeStream provides blood products and services to more than 80 Southern California hospitals and medical facilities in six counties.

Alexrod said that he hopes Michele and Ken's joint donations will encourage others to donate blood.

Axelrod said an ongoing critical blood shortage impacts hospitals and patients as blood is essential to surgeries that occur daily at area hospitals, according to the statement. At least 500 blood donations are needed daily in order to keep up with the hospital patient requirements.