University Health System in San Antonio is facing a critical blood shortage, with the lowest supply the health system has seen in at least 14 years, local CBS affiliate Kens 5 News reported.
University Hospital brings in about 500 to 600 units of blood in a good month, which covers less than half of what it needs to treat patients, according to Kens 5 News. The rest reportedly comes from the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center, which is also facing a shortage.
"If it gets to a critical level, we will have to start canceling elective surgeries in order to conserve our blood for the patients we already have," Leslie Greebon, MD, the medical director of transfusion services told the station.
Dr. Greebon, who's been with University Health System for 14 years, said the blood supply is the lowest she's ever seen. University Hospital's blood supply is so low, it could take a major hit from a single car accident, Kens 5 News reported.
"One patient can use hundreds of units, which we don't have at this time," Dr. Greebon said.
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