Hospitals across the United States are facing a critical shortage of intravenous (IV) fluids due to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
The hurricane severely flooded Baxter International’s manufacturing plant in North Cove, North Carolina, which produces 60% of America’s IV fluid supply—about 1.5 million bags daily. This damage has disrupted the supply chain of these essential medical supplies, impacting patient care nationwide.
The disruption has led to hospitals receiving less than half of their usual IV fluid shipments.
“I’ve heard from hospitals from coast to coast,” said Dr. Chris DeRienzo, chief physician officer of the American Hospital Association (AHA). “This impact is felt by patients everywhere.”
Hospitals like Mass General Brigham in Boston are conserving their fluid supplies, while others, such as UVA Hospital, have been forced to postpone elective and non-life-threatening surgeries.
Kenneth J. Perry, MD, FACEP, an emergency physician at Trident Medical Center in Charleston, South Carolina, highlighted the importance of IV fluids in emergency care.
“From nausea and vomiting, dehydration, rhabdomyolysis, and even infections, fluids are a cornerstone of treatment,” he told Fox News Digital. “With the recent destruction in North Carolina from Hurricane Helene, the production of intravenous fluids has been severely limited.”
In response to the crisis, Baxter International announced that several of its global plants are “scaling and ramping production to help meet U.S. needs.”
The company expects to receive products from these sources throughout October and aims to restore North Cove production in phases, returning to 90% to 100% allocation by the end of 2024.
The AHA has called on the Biden Administration to declare the shortage a national emergency and to invoke the Defense Production Act.
“The AHA strongly urges the Administration to take immediate actions to increase the supply of IV solutions for the nation’s hospitals, health systems, and other health care providers that are already struggling to provide care,” wrote AHA President Richard J. Pollack in a letter dated October 7.
Dr. DeRienzo explained that using the Defense Production Act would enable the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Defense (DOD) to expedite production and ensure a steady nationwide supply. “Using the act would allow us to increase production and ensure nationwide supply,” he noted.
Meanwhile, medical professionals are implementing measures to mitigate the shortage. Dr. Perry suggested that awareness is the first step.
“There has to be a team approach when we have such an acute shortage,” he said. “Hospitals need to utilize every possible option for fluid administration, such as small-as-possible volumes of fluids and even changing protocols that initiate fluids without specific needs.”
He also pointed out that shortages within the healthcare system are not new, referencing supply issues experienced during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Healthcare entities had to manage to treat patients even as the supply chains were not keeping up,” Dr. Perry added. “Physicians need to stay vigilant to ensure that we are able to adapt and change patient care protocols as new pressures arise.”
As communities continue to rebuild after Hurricane Helene, the IV fluid shortage highlights the vulnerability of critical medical supply chains to natural disasters.
Hospitals and healthcare providers are urging swift action to address the shortage to ensure that patient care remains uncompromised.