Overlake Medical Center and Bloodworks Northwest Open New Transfusion Lab

Bellevue, Wash. – Overlake Medical Center and Bloodworks Northwest have opened a full-service transfusion lab on the Overlake campus, improving patient care by providing faster testing and matching, immediate access to blood components and expertise when patients need critical transfusions for surgeries, trauma, treatment or emergencies.

The lab—under the oversight and leadership of Bloodworks’ highly regarded staff—will be open and available for patients 24/7. Their specialty diagnostics lab in Seattle will continue to serve patients with rare or complex blood types.

“Our partnership with Bloodworks complements our commitment to deliver exceptional quality and compassionate care to our patients,” said Overlake Medical Center Chief Medical Officer David Knoepfler, MD. “Our shared goal is to deliver the highest quality and best service possible to our patients—always.”

“Our long history of collaboration with Overlake Medical Center benefits both patients and the community,” said Dr. James P. AuBuchon, president and CEO of Bloodworks. “Care providers can now experience streamlined service and faster turn-around times, while we can share our transfusion expertise and the benefit of lifesaving blood collected from donors across our region.”

Studies show that blood transfusions are the most frequently performed medical procedure patients receive during hospital stays. About five million Americans receive transfusions every year.

The lab represents the latest chapter in a longstanding partnership between the two organizations. The relationship dates back to 1960, when Overlake Hospital first opened with Bloodworks—then called the King Country Central Blood Bank—as its provider of blood services.