Industry News | 10.08.24
Hospitals Hit With IV Fluid Shortage After Hurricane Helene
By NAMSS Staff
Wall Street Journal (10/03/24) Walker, Joseph; Loftus, Peter
Baxter, the biggest manufacturer of intravenous (IV) fluids in the United States, has informed hospitals that its Marion, North Carolina, facility was flooded during Hurricane Helene. As a result, hospitals should prepare for only around 40% of their normal IV fluid shipments for the near future. Hospitals are responding by conserving IV fluids by not discarding partially used IV fluid bags when patients are transferred within the hospital and using oral hydration when possible. Existing shortages elsewhere in the world mean U.S. hospitals cannot turn to European manufacturers. Baxter is collaborating with various government agencies on a plan to restart production. The FDA will work to boost supply of IV fluids with other Baxter plants and it could expedite reviews at the affected Baxter plant once its manufacturing lines have been restored.
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