HARLINGEN MEDICAL CENTER CARRYING WHOLE BLOOD; LEADING THE COUNTY

PRESS  RELEASE  

HARLINGEN MEDICAL CENTER CARRYING  Whole blood; leading the county

HMC currently the only hospital in Cameron County with
“Low Titer O+ Whole Blood”
 
Harlingen, July 9, 2025 - Harlingen Medical Center is currently the only hospital in Cameron County carrying “Low Titer O+ Whole Blood” (LTOWB) – an "all-in-one" blood, which includes red blood cells, platelets, and plasma all together. This can help facilitate transfusion of blood into bleeding patients during certain emergency situations.
 
Jennifer Milum, MBA, MSN, RN, Market Trauma Program Manager, Prime Healthcare - RGV, said that whole blood is a crucial component in emergency medicine.
“The use of Low Titer O+ Whole Blood has shown promising outcomes in patients experiencing massive bleeding,” Ms. Milum added. “Whole blood can be utilized for patients bleeding due to trauma, surgery, and other medical issues.”
Many other hospitals in the Valley and elsewhere have components of blood on hand, but not the all-in-one “whole” blood.  A single unit of donated blood is separated into its individual components (red blood cells, plasma, and platelets). This allows one donation of blood to benefit several patients, with each patient receiving only the specific part they need.
While using these individual components of blood has certain advantages and is the standard practice in most hospitals, whole blood transfusions are seeing a resurgence, particularly in trauma and surgical settings.  

“Whole blood has advantages in situations especially where rapid replacement for massive blood loss is needed … as whole blood gives the patient a balanced ratio of the various components -- red blood cells, plasma, and platelets,” Ms. Milum said. “Harlingen Medical Center has already experienced the clinical benefits of whole blood transfusions, with multiple patients having received units as a part of their treatment.”
As part of efforts to increase the supply of whole blood in the Valley, the Trauma Regional Advisory Council-V recently received a grant which has encouraged additional EMS providers and hospitals to carry whole blood. Harlingen Medical Center joined the effort as part of a regional whole blood rotation program between EMS providers and hospitals throughout the Valley.

Having additional hospitals such as Harlingen Medical Center carrying whole blood also helps in an effort to support whole blood use among various 911 ambulance services in the Valley. These hospitals are part of a coordinated system that ensures whole blood is available for critically injured patients -- while also ensuring efficient use of donated blood.  
“Harlingen Medical Center has shown immense commitment to advancing the quality of patient care through adoption of whole blood,” said Nathan Ramon, Executive Director of TRAC-V. “Level I and II trauma centers are typically the ones to use whole blood for patients, so to have a Level IV trauma center serving as a rotation site in our region is a great accomplishment and has already impressed key stakeholders around the state.”
Todd Mann, CEO of Harlingen Medical Center, said that HMC has long been a leader in providing advanced care to the communities in Cameron County -- and that being the only hospital in the county to implement the whole blood program “is a testament to our dedication and commitment to providing the best care to our patients.”

“We are very proud of our trauma program leadership in driving this initiative forward,” Mr. Mann added. “Our staff works tirelessly to uphold the highest standards of care. We remain committed to innovation, compassionate service, and above all, to providing exceptional quality care for our patients.”

Harlingen Medical Center serves the Valley as an award-winning hospital for emergency and inpatient care.  HMC recently became become the first hospital in Cameron County to be accredited as a Geriatric Emergency Department – a designation which demonstrates that the hospital provides “excellent care for older adults”, according to the American College of Emergency Physicians.

In addition, Harlingen Medical Center is the only hospital in Cameron County to receive an “A” grade for patient safety for eight times in a row from the Leapfrog Group, a non-profit organization that rates hospitals on patient safety.

For more information about life-saving emergency services at Harlingen Medical Center, please visit www.HarlingenMedicalCenter.com.  Most importantly, please remember to call 911 immediately during medical emergencies. 

ABOUT Harlingen Medical Center
Harlingen Medical Center is a nationally recognized and award-winning general acute care hospital. The Level IV Trauma Designated hospital specializes in bariatrics, cardiovascular, imaging, orthopedics, emergency medicine, gastroenterology, gynecology, and wound healing care. Our concept of "Patient Focused Care" puts you, the patient, first! The design, management, staffing, and operation of our hospital are focused on your needs and overall comfort. For more information, please call (956) 365-1000 or visit www.HarlingenMedicalCenter.com