Anchorage, AK – Blood Bank of Alaska is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Joy Neyhart to the Board of Directors. Dr. Neyhart is a pediatrician at Rainforest Pediatric Care in Juneau, and has been practicing medicine for 20 years. She currently serves as the Bartlett Regional Hospital Medical Staff Chief, and served on the Alaska State Medical Board from 2016-2020. Dr Neyhart will provide a unique Southeast Alaskan view regarding the needs of blood in the area and the surrounding hospitals. BBA is part of the emergency response system for Alaska, and the Juneau community provides critical support for the state when blood is needed.
“I am looking forward to working with the Blood Bank of Alaska toward establishing a reliable and immediate stock of blood products for Juneau. Partnering with a not-for-profit agency based in Alaska will make sense for our community,” said Dr. Neyhart.
“We are thrilled that Dr. Neyhart is joining the board as a representative of the Juneau community and Southeast Alaska. Our Juneau blood donors continue to be truly committed to helping Alaska patients in need,” stated Robert Scanlon, CEO of Blood Bank of Alaska.
Blood Bank of Alaska opened the center in Juneau in January 2019. Recently the Juneau center has begun collecting convalescent plasma in addition to whole blood donations. This request comes from a nationwide effort from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to offer an additional form of treatment for critically ill patients of COVID-19. While clinical trials are currently being performed for widespread use of this treatment, the FDA has authorized patients with, or at risk of, severe or life-threatening COVID-19 disease to receive this treatment through an expanded access program. Donors must be fully recovered and provide valid documentation of their recovery. There is currently no evidence indicating that SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2), the virus responsible for causing COVID-19, can be transmitted via blood transfusion. In addition to providing medical documentation showing that they have fully recovered from COVID-19, prospective convalescent plasma donors must meet all screening and eligibility requirements for regular blood donation. Prospective donors may contact BBA at (907) 222-5630 for questions regarding eligibility. Prospective donors are encouraged to visit https://www.bloodbankofalaska.org/covid-19 for more information on convalescent plasma, as well as how to become a donor. Pre-approval and an appointment are required. Please call (907) 222-5630 or visit https://www.bloodbankofalaska.org/covid-19 for additional information.
SARS-CoV-2 is novel (new) and clinical trials are still being performed regarding the effectiveness of convalescent plasma for COVID-19 patients. However, according to the FDA, convalescent plasma is a promising treatment that has also been studied in outbreaks of other respiratory infections including the 2009-2010 H1N1 influenza virus pandemic, 2003 SARS-CoV-1 epidemic, and the 2012 MERS-CoV epidemic.
Press Contacts:
Robert Scanlon
Blood Bank of Alaska
rscanlon@bbak.org
907-222-5602
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BLOOD BANK OF ALASKA
Blood Bank of Alaska supplies blood to 21 Alaska hospitals and medical centers. Blood Bank of Alaska and its donors are dedicated to serving the Alaska community by providing high-quality blood products and related laboratory services while meeting changing healthcare needs. Learn more at www.bloodbankofalaska.org