Hospitals face IV shortages driven by hurricane
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Hospitals are starting to run short of critical IV fluids and devising workarounds after a North Carolina manufacturing plant that furnished more than half of the domestic supply was taken down by Hurricane Helene.
Why it matters: Health systems worry the fragile supply chain could bring disruptions in patient care and a squeeze reminiscent of 2017, when Hurricane Maria tore through key drug manufacturing plants in Puerto Rico.
Driving the news: The Florida Hospital Association said its members face an "ongoing and growing supply disruption" and are doing risk mitigation in the face of disrupted stocks of IV and peritoneal dialysis solutions.
- The California Hospital Association told facilities late last week to begin conservation measures, including using the smallest amount of IV fluids needed and regularly reviewing patients receiving infusions to see if there are alternate treatments.
- Mass General Brigham said it's received just 40% of their usual supply and is giving patients who are healthy enough Gatorade or water instead of IVs, per the Boston Globe.
What they're saying: Baxter International, which operates the North Cove plant, doesn't have a timetable for reopening and said it's working with the Food and Drug Administration to line up other company plants to reduce the potential supply impact.
- "There are many components to the recovery process given the nature of sterile drug manufacturing," the company said in a statement.
- One of the first orders of business is replacing a bridge to transport remediation equipment to the site and get some finished IV products that were stored in trailers and not damaged by the storm to customers.
- In a letter to home dialysis providers, Baxter said there may be a need to prioritize diabetic patients with critical fluid balance issues or unstable glucose control.
