Thursday, February 12, 2009
MountainStar Blood Services Digs for ‘Liquid Gold’ New Program Promotes Platelet Donation
PROVO (February 6, 2009) – MountainStar Blood Services, the oldest blood bank in Utah, wants to “stick it” to donors more frequently.
“We have just kicked off a new Automated Blood Collection (ABC) program that lets a donor give platelets (an amber or “gold” component of whole blood) as often as 24 times per year,” said Director Marilyn Peralta. “While whole blood donors may give only seven times per year, our ABC Dig for Liquid Gold project allows us to help many more critically ill patients at local hospitals.”
Because of advances in medical care and ever-present blood shortages, patients now receive only the blood components they need. After whole blood is donated, the unit is separated into red cells, platelets, and plasma. The amount of platelets is only a couple of tablespoons so they must be pooled with platelets from 6-10 other units to get enough to provide a transfusion. However, one ABC donation provides enough for a complete transfusion.
An apheresis machine is used for an ABC donation. MountainStar Blood Services has machines at donor centers in Ogden and Provo. Each machine draws whole blood from a donor and separates it into its different components by centrifugation (spinning). The platelets are collected in a sterile plastic bag and the remainder of the blood is returned to the donor through the same needle. The whole process takes about 90 minutes.
“Your body will replace platelets very quickly – usually within 24 hours,” said Peralta. “We allow eager donors to participate every two weeks.”
She said an open heart surgery patient at Ogden Regional Medical Center recently needed six units of platelets along with other components. The platelets could be made available by six ABC donors instead of 36-60 whole blood donors.
“And a bone marrow transplant patient may need as many as 200 platelet transfusions,” she continued. “This process really lets us maximize each donation.”
To encourage ABC donation, the Dig for Liquid Gold program provides incentives for regular platelet donation. Giving eight times per year qualifies a person for a copper Deed of Appreciation and a $15 gift certificate to a local retailer. For 16 donations, the reward is a silver deed and a $25 certificate. And those who donate the full 24 times per year get a gold Deed of Appreciation and a $50 certificate at one of Utah’s finest steak houses.
“We were delighted that 77 donors immediately signed up when we introduced the Dig for Liquid Gold program in January,” said Peralta. “And we can accommodate many, many more.”
The Provo donor center is open each weekday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 152 West 1230 North. Call 1-877-45-BLOOD, Option 2 to make an appointment to give platelets or whole blood.
REMEDEZ HAIR SPA NAMED ONE OF NATION’S FASTEST-GROWING SALONS BY SALON TODAY MAGAZINE
LINCOLNSHIRE, IL (January 2009) – Orem’s Remedez Hair Spa owned by Bernie Nielsen, Cynthia & Tyler Gambill, recently was named one of the 200 fastest-growing salons in North America by Salon Today magazine, a top business publication for salon and spa owners. “For Remedez to be recognized for a fourth consecutive year is such an honor,” stated Bernie Nielsen, director of operations for Remedez Salon and Day Spa. Remedez was profiled in the $1 million to $2 million category and had 21% sales growth. Remedez was the only Utah salon or day spa so recognized by Salon Today magazine.
The magazine’s twelfth annual Salon Today 200 profiled the selected salons in its January 2009 issue. The 200 salons were selected from applications submitted by Salon Today readers, who represent the 25,000 top-producing salons and spas in the country. The magazine honored the applicants who posted the highest increases in gross sales between 2006 and 2007.
“The twelfth annual issue of the Salon Today 200 features growing salons with excellent customer service, innovative marketing and top education for employees,” said Stacey Soble, editor-in-chief of Salon Today. “In an ever-challenging economic climate, the Salon Today 200 salons continue to grow by implementing the best business practices, providing a rewarding environment for their staff members and a standout experience for their clients.”
For a salon to be named to the Salon Today 200, it had to meet the following criteria:
1) The salon is a provider of professional salon services including one, or more, of the following: hair care, nail care, skin care, body care or spa treatments; 2) It generated gross annual sales revenues of at least $250,000; 3) The salon’s revenues were greater in 2007 than 2006; 4) The owner charted his or her business financial growth for the past three years and shared information about the service and product categories that fueled the salon’s growth; 5) The applicant submitted financial documentation, such as a tax return or certified letter from an accountant, to verify revenues.
Growth-oriented salons of every size and type participated and were showcased in the issue. To help the magazine’s readers benchmark their own businesses against the honorees, the Salon Today 200 coverage was broken down into four revenue categories: 27 were profiled in the $250,000 to $499,999 category; 55 were profiled in the $500,000 to $999,999 category; 69 were profiled in the $1 million to $1,999,999 category; and 49 in the $2 million-plus category.
Salon Today and its sister publications, Modern Salon and Renew, are published in Lincolnshire, IL, by Vance Publishing Corporation.
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