MEDIC was established in 1958 by Carl Nelson, MD, under the sponsorship of the Knoxville Academy of Medicine. Area physicians supported the independent, not-for-profit blood center because they wanted a source of blood from volunteer donors, and they desired centralization of blood collection, testing and distribution. MEDIC’s operational and capital costs are financed by blood supplier processing fees charged to hospitals. MEDIC is the only U.S. blood center which has a Blood Coverage Program covering members’ blood supplier processing fees at any hospital in the country. MEDIC is a member of America’s Blood Centers and is an accredited member of AABB. The center adheres to the blood product safety regulations established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is licensed by the FDA and the State of Tennessee. Today, MEDIC Regional Blood Center is the provider of blood and blood-related products for 25 hospitals in 23 counties in East Tennessee and Southeastern Kentucky and regional air transport services.
