Blood Centers of the Pacific – Marin Center

How can you give a blood donation center anything less than 5 stars? I’ve been donating here since 2006. I used to donate platelets and plasma but they don’t have the machines for that anymore so I usually donate using the Alyx machine. The staff is great (Hi Carol!) and if you donate regularly, as you should, you can earn points for things like movie tickets.

Wonderful donation Place!!! They do such great things for the community. We are proud to be a part of them… the fire department loves them

They called, so I answered.

Just got back from donating blood at the San Rafael Blood Centers of the Pacific location, and I’m, frankly, appalled. I should say: I’ve been giving blood there regularly (every 8 weeks) for the past year, and I’ve noticed problems before. Today, though, was pretty outrageous.
The problems I experienced today fall into the following categories: dilapidated machinery, inconsistent hygiene, and unmotivated staff (probably a managerial problem).
Dilapidated machinery: The blood pressure cuff used during my donation was broken. There was no glass covering over the dial, and the needle was bent (and was re-​bent by the nurse to get it into what she thought was the right position). As a result of it not showing the correct pressure, the pressure was too high during the first part of my donation — I could feel my pulse in the cuff, and the needle was pulsating too, in rhythm. I mentioned the sensation, and the nurse adjusted it. In addition, the arm on the chair I was seated in for the donation could not hold an adjustment — it kept slipping down. The nurse had to pile on a couple of foam spacers to get my arm up to the right height.
Inconsistent hygiene: My nurse was wiping her nose with a kleenex when I entered the screening room. Her hands were bare. She typed a few things on the keyboard to bring up my record. Then she put on latex gloves. And then she started typing on the keyboard again.
Lack of motivation: I believe that the staff filled the afternoon calendar with fake appointments, in order to be able to finish up early. That’s quite an allegation, I know, but here are the facts:
1. Last night, I tried to sign in to make an appointment, and the last two hours of the afternoon schedule were open except for two or three appointments (at least 13 open appointments). They just instituted a new log-​in system (must have lost all the old usernames for some reason), so I didn’t succeed in making an appointment. I wasn’t worried, though, since there were so many open slots.
2. At about 1 pm today (two hours before closing), I successfully created a new username on their site and logged in. All of the afternoon appointments were taken. Every single one. There were plenty of open slots left in the morning, but not the afternoon. I decided to go over anyway.
3. When we arrived just after 2 pm, there was one donor waiting to have his blood drawn. We (my wife and I) were there until after closing at 3 pm. Not one additional person with an appointment showed up during that time.
4. I saw the appointment sheet. They did, in fact, have names printed out in all of the slots. But there was a cancellation for 2:45, marked in pen (probably one of the only few legitimate afternoon appointments). So we decided to wait, and I’d take that slot. That made them uncomfortable, and they debated amongst themselves whether to register us. They ended up registering and drawing from both myself and my wife.
5. They told us, and another donor without an appointment who showed up after us, that their new policy is not to take walk-​ins without appointments. That donor was a 40-​year donor, but always without appointments, and he told them he wasn’t going to change — that they were going to lose him as a donor. And so it goes.
As 3 pm (closing time) approached and then receded, the staff became more friendly generally (though not the manager). The issues seem to reflect a failure of leadership and management. For now, I’m going to have to look for another place to donate blood. Pity. This one was so convenient.

I’ve been donating platelets at the San Rafael center for almost 10 years. Although they’ve consolidated those machines to Santa Rosa, I still come here to donate whole blood and double red blood cells.
The team here is great; friendly, helpful, and accommodating. They’re attentive to donors’ needs and make a point thanking donors. They make you feel great about performing a good deed.
I don’t understand the reviews complaining about the staff; I’ve never had a bad experience with the staff here or at any of the blood drives I’ve attended. I guess you get what you give.

Having 2 universal donors in my family, this place calls my home more frequently than my Mom.
They can’t pay people to donate blood but they can award you with things for your continued contributions. Today I got 4 free movie theater tickets for the points we had accumulated from our donations. That, and knowing that half my family are true lifesavers for anyone out there in distress, is very rewarding.
So go ahead, if you can stand the needles, give ‘em some blood. If you’re blessed enough to be walking around with gold in your veins (universal donor blood type) call and make your appointment today. I hate to get all slogan-​y on you, but you never know when someone that someone loves can be saved by your act of generosity.

I was looking forward to donating blood, and have done so many times in the past. My experience with Blood Centers of the Pacific will have me going to another organization to donate in the future. Both myself and another coworker were treated very rudely by one woman while doing a blood dive at work.
I mentioned to the intake nurse that I have, in years past, fainted while having blood drawn. However, that has not happened in the last 3 — 4 years that I have been donating at my companies blood drive. The intake nurse said it was no problem, said my blood pressure and iron levels were great, and just to let them know if I felt at all light headed. I said that was fine with me, and I have always been able to feel it coming on. Fainting is not even a question on the form, but I felt I should bring it up.
The last few times I donated, they thanked me for the info and had an ice pack handy in case I felt woozy, which fortunately I have not and did not need the pack.
As another nurse was about to begin the blood draw, the fainting was mentioned it to the manager. Without asking me for any information, the manager told me in an irritated tone, «you can’t donate then» she went on to say it would be a «waste of their time.» I explained that I had donated a number of times since with no incident and felt comfortable today, especially since I had just had lunch and drank plenty of water. The manager said that they would probably get about half way and then have to stop, which would «be a waste of your blood, your time and ours.» I explained that it really was not a big concern, and I have always been able to finish the donation, and again, it has been years since that happened. She continued to be rude and dismissive and made it clear that I was wasting her time.
This lady seemed to be in a hurry to leave. I heard her discussing with her staff how soon they would be leaving and when the last appointments were. Overall, this was very disappointing especially since I took time out of my day, and even made sure to eat iron-​rich foods and hydrate beginning 24 hours prior to my appointment.

A really good cause, easy to do

It’s for a good cause, so I put up with the less than friendly reception staff. You’d think they’d act a little nicer to people who are willing to give up an hour of their time and a pint of their blood, but instead, you get the Water Board treatment.
Once you get through the meannie gauntlet, then the actual techs that draw your blood are very warm and friendly. Then Gramma makes all the hurt go away at the end with freshly baked Otis Spunkmeyer cookies!

BCP calls me up like once a month to donate blood, but I usually only do it about once every 6 months. Its a great thing to do but it makes me feel so crappy. It always takes them a minute or so of poking to find a vein, then I always almost pass out after only a minute. Even though I hate the process I always feel proud for donating. Someone needs your blood much more than you do, so donate people!!!

UPDATE: 11.23.07 I went into the Marin BC location in San Rafael today. Had an appointment at 1PM (they are open until 2 on Saturdays). I was worried that my blood donating days were over. Last time I had an appointment at the Fire Station in Tiburon, they couldn’t hit a vein. ARGH! They told me to go into the Main Center in San Rafael — «they have a smaller needle.» Well, I wondered. .. if there are smaller needles, why weren’t we using them all the time? But I guess it takes longer and the smaller needle machine is more expensive, so they can’t /​don’t take it to the remote locations. Well everything was fine. Iron was ok. Weight ok. BP was ok. Blood was sucked right out. Cookies & apple juice for me. But I’m a small needle girl from now on. Learn something every day!
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Yes, I’m giving 5 STARS to an organization that tells me my iron is too low, makes me fill out a questionnaire that is longer than a roll of paper towels and asks really embarrasing questions, and always WANTS TO STICK NEEDLES IN ME!
But, hey! I get a little glass of apple juice and a couple of cookies in return. .. and sometimes even a couple movie tickets or a t-​shirt.
But just think of what I’m really giving & getting. .. the possibility of SAVING SOMEONE’S LIFE. Someone who needed blood desperately. That one more pint that might not have been available if I hadn’t skipped meeting my friends for lunch, or shopping for another trinket that I really didn’t need. So I gave up my lunch hour the other day and gave life to someone I didn’t even know. I feel good about it!
I’ve been going to the many donor sites around Marin County about every 6 – 8 weeks (they won’t let you give more frequently) for awhile. The staff at these remote sites are all from the Marin Center — what a nice bunch of folks. They always treat you like they understand that this is a big deal that you got the courage to come in and donate. They are fast and efficient. Doesn’t take long. And it is really true. . I did save a life today. .. I gave blood!
Go to the main website (
) and click on locations. There are 16 around the greater Bay Area. I’m sure there is one near you. The website has a wonderful calendar by location. You can make an appointment online. .. or just go in. Drop-​ins are always welcome too.
Courage like a lion, that’s all it takes!