(CNS) – Desert Care Network’s chief executive officer and Eisenhower Health’s chief operating officer, jointly donated blood Thursday in an effort to highlight the critical need of blood donations.

Ken Wheat, Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer for Eisenhower Health

Desert Care Network CEO Michele Finney and Eisenhower Health COO Ken Wheat donated blood at LifeStream’s Rancho Mirage Donor Center, spokesperson Lee Rice with Eisenhower Health.

“LifeStream is proud to have such dedicated partners and champions for community health in Michele and Ken,” said LifeStream President/CEO & Medical Director Dr. Rick Axelrod in a statement. “We hope their joint donations on Thursday encourage local blood donors to come out and give the gift of blood.”

LifeStream provides blood exclusively to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage and JFK Memorial Hospital in Indio, according to a statement from LifeStream. Alexrod said that he hopes Michele and Ken’s joint donations will encourage others to donate blood.

20220825 F16a2181 — Michele Finney, Chief Executive Officer for Desert Care Network and Desert Regional Medical Center

Axelrod said an ongoing critical blood shortage impacts hospitals and patients as blood is essential to surgeries that occur daily at area hospitals, according to the statement. At least 500 blood donations are needed daily to fulfill the patient need.

Fixed-site donor centers can be found in Rancho Mirage, La Quinta, Riverside, Murrieta, Hemet, Ontario, Victorville, Placentia and San Bernardino.

Hospital Leaders Donate Blood and Encourage Locals to Do The Same