Durham Red Cross Blood, Platelet and Plasma Donation Center — Attraction in Durham

Meh, I feel weird writing a negative review of a place I've only tried to donate blood at once, but this is more of a review of a full experience I had with the Red Cross, both service over the phone from a call center and the experience from my visit to this site.

I have previously given Power Red donations in Atlanta, and this was the first off experience I have had with the RC. I called today to the call center to ask some questions about any problems from a possible medication, and instead of getting a straight answer I got moaning and groaning and basically being hung up on. Both the call tech and in person tech, neither knew the answer and were very irritated by my questions.

I get flyers constantly asking me to donate, and I'm trying to be patient with people because I know this is a stressful time. The woman on the phone from the call center was rushing me off the phone while I asked questions and let out several groans. I work in customer service, and it just was a bit much to have her do that and then hang up the phone when she was done talking without letting me know she was ending the phone call. It was rude.

Then the woman at the center didn't know the answers and made me feel like she didn't think I should donate blood despite all of my vitals being on target and saying I could donate. Her vibe was way off. She slammed around looking for a vein despite me saying it hurt, and then kept trying to blame me for having hard veins to find, after I said in advance that I usually have to have butterfly needles. She kept trying to blame me for not being hydrated, despite hydrating all day and eating well.

I never had such a negative and weird bleh experience in Atlanta, they just do their job, make you feel appreciated, and move on.

The tech who worked with me today on site needs to center herself and not dump on people donating blood, it's super unappealing and strange to blame a patient when I assume she is maybe a weak phlebotomist.

It was 45 minutes after my appointment to get called in as well. What's the point of an appointment?

I know it's important to help, but really I no longer want any flyers in the mail when they are at the site complaining about not wanting anymore appointments out loud to each other in front of donors and telling people they basically shouldn't donate but also that they can, and then being surprised when the person feels uncomfortable being there and...

I have been dealing with the RC for over 50 years and have given something between 85 and 140 units of blood (not sure which because the RC has quoted both numbers to me) and will continue to donate blood thru the RC since they seem to have a monopoly on whole blood donations. That said this is one screwed up organization. Several examples; a number of years ago after dozens of blood donations, I received a form letter from the RC telling me I was at risk for a strand of hepatitis and needed to see my doctor; not the courtesy of a telephone call but a soulless form letter. A little scary! I immediately called my doctor who told me I was fine that RC tended to be overreact. I was so angry with the RC that I did not donate blood again for almost 10 years. -several years ago after I retired and had time to donate platelets, I donated 6-8 times before the RC told me my platelets count was too low. I wonder why it took them so long to determine that. Platelet donations take up to 2 hours per time so that was 6-8 mornings or afternoons wasted. -Recently, during a donation of whole blood I enquired about giving plasma and was told I could do it thru the platelet unit next door. When I went in to give plasma I was told they did not do it in Durham but I could go to Cary ( inconvenient) or to North Raleigh (even farther away). When I mentioned that the whole blood folks told me I could do it at the platelet unit a nice lady told me that the whole blood unit really did not know what goes in the platelet unit ( how am I supposed to know that) Query, why are the only places to give plasma located in Wake County which is very inconvenient for folks on the western side of the Triangle (Durham and...

I was a walk-in. They gladly took me in and got me registered. Staff were very sweet and talked me through every step of the way. When my iron wasn't high enough in one hand they always asked if they could check my other hand. They made sure I was comfortable during the whole process. Even scratched my nose for me when I couldn't do it my self. Lol! The after care was awesome they explained all my questions and when she didn't have answers she went to someone else to get it. Over all...