--- title: "Doctor Warns of Blood Shortage Risk as Surgeries Resume | Sutter Health" description: "A Sutter emergency physician explains how a critical blood shortage could delay surgeries and urges healthy people to donate blood right now." url: "https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/perspectives/critical-blood-shortage-may-impact-hospitals" --- 1. [Home](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Perspectives](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/perspectives) / 3. Critical Blood Shortage May Impact Hospitals # Critical Blood Shortage May Impact Hospitals A Sutter emergency physician explains how a critical blood shortage could delay surgeries and urges healthy people to donate blood right now. June 9, 2020 by Monique Binkley Smith ![Critical Blood Shortage May Impact Hospitals](https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/sutterhealt962c-sutterhealt8fce-production57cc-4860/media/Project/SutterHealth/Vitals/perspectives/iStock-493053216-65c7b4d5.jpg?h=1281&iar=0&w=818 "Critical Blood Shortage May Impact Hospitals") Now **Ronn Berrol, M.D**., medical director of the Summit campus emergency department at Sutter’s [Alta Bates Summit Medical Center](https://www.sutterhealth.org/absmc), explains the impact of the blood shortage on hospitals in a recent interview with KTVU Fox 2. #### [**Watch the video interview**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYoR-26kO0Q) For a while, the drop in blood donation wasn’t as problematic since there was a lower demand for blood as people obeyed shelter in place orders—the number of emergency surgeries and hospitalizations was reduced— and elective procedures were cancelled, says Dr. Berrol. But as people begin venturing out and hospitals resume urgent and elective surgeries, he says there is the potential for disruption or delays for blood-intensive surgical procedures such as complicated heart, cancer, gynecologic or orthopedic surgery because of the blood and blood product shortage. #### **The solution?** Dr. Berrol urges healthy people to contact their local blood bank to make an appointment to donate blood. He also counsels patience because, though the need for blood donation is urgent, there may be a delay of a week or two for an appointment since blood banks have had to reduce the number of appointments they can offer in order to implement safety measures like physical distancing and extra cleaning. Contact the [Red Cross](https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements.html) or [Vitalant](https://www.vitalant.org/Donate/Donate-Blood-Overview.aspx) to learn more about how you can donate blood in your community. ## Emergency Fast, comprehensive emergency care can protect your health and even save your life. If you're facing a sudden illness, injury or severe symptoms, our emergency specialists can provide immediate treatment and stabilization 24/7. [Learn more about Emergency](https://www.sutterhealth.org/services/emergency) ## Related articles ### [SF ems adds Sutter’s CPMC Mission Bernal to stroke care network](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/community-impact/sf-ems-adds-sutters-cpmc-mission-bernal-to-stroke-care-network) ### [Healthgrades Recognizes Sutter for Specialty Care Patients Can Count On](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/our-people/healthgrades-recognizes-sutter-for-specialty-care-patients-can-count-on) ### [Before You Light the Fuse: How to Stay Safe This Fourth of July](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/perspectives/before-you-light-the-fuse-how-to-stay-safe-this-fourth-of-july) ### [Santa Rosa Woman Survives After Heart Stops for 20 Minutes](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/santa-rosa-woman-survives-after-heart-stops-beating-for-20-minutes) [See all from Perspectives](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/perspectives) ## Check your Vitals Get the latest in health innovation, community impact and patient care from Sutter Health — delivered straight to your inbox. 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