Overlake Hospital’s new “blood vending machine”
Overlake Hospital Medical Center is the first hospital in King County to use a blood vending machine called a HemoSafe that stores up to 150 units of blood which can then be used for patients. The new technology significantly cuts down the time it takes to get blood for life-saving transfusions. According to the blood bank coordinator, Andrea Nordmark, the machine shaves off 30 minutes to an hour in the time it usually takes to transport blood. In addition, the machine reduces mistakes in the handling of blood.
The Seattle Times, Associated Press, KIRO-7 News, MyNorthwest.com, KING-5 News and Northwest Cable News all published either a picture or a video of Nordmark demonstrating how to use the HemoSafe.