Medical facilities throughout the United States are in a state of urgency due to a critical supply issue with IV fluids, following damage sustained by a North Carolina supplier. The supplier in question, Baxter International, which has a production facility in Marion, North Carolina, roughly 35 miles from Asheville, suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Helene. This led to the plant’s temporary closure due to issues such as mud, broken bridges, and floods.
‘If we get a big burn, we can blow through a ton of these fluids very quickly.’
José “Joe” Almeida, the chair, president, and CEO of Baxter, emphasized the company’s dedication to safety and supply continuity in a statement, saying, “The safety of our employees, their families, and the communities in which we operate remains our utmost concern, and we are committed to helping ensure reliable supply of products to patients. Remediation efforts are already underway, and we will spare no resource — human or financial — to resume production and help ensure patients and providers have the products they need.”
It’s been reported by CBS News that Baxter is responsible for producing approximately 60% of the IV fluid bags supplied across the nation. As a result, medical centers from Massachusetts to Oregon are now initiating emergency plans to mitigate the effects of the reduced availability of IV fluids.
A seasoned healthcare professional from Mass General Brigham in Boston highlighted to Blaze News the wide-ranging impact of an IV fluid shortage, stating, “Patients that are dehydrated, patients that can’t eat, patients that can’t swallow, patients that have had surgery, that have come in for surgery, patients that have come in for surgery where the surgery hasn’t gone well, patients that are bleeding and need resuscitative fluids, trauma patients, burn patients, cancer patients, you know, it covers all the population.”
‘If we get a big burn, we can blow through a ton of these fluids very quickly.’
So far, Mass General Brigham has been able to fulfill the needs of its patients, according to the same healthcare professional speaking to Blaze News. However, he shared a memo dated October 2, detailing the “serious and immediate IV fluid shortage” and urging medical staff to “immediately act to conserve fluids.”
While Mass General Brigham did not comment on the matter to Blaze News, Dr. Paul Biddinger, the chief preparedness and continuity officer at the hospital, acknowledged to CBS News that they are facing “one of the biggest shortages” in their history. During a press briefing on Friday, Biddinger expressed expectations that MGB would continue receiving about 40% of its normal Baxter supply.
Echoing a similar situation, Chris Laman, vice president of strategy at Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria, Oregon, informed NPR, “My hospital has been told we can expect 40% of what we normally order,” leading to discussions about the necessity to “limit elective surgeries.”
To address the shortfall, companies outside the affected area by Hurricane Helene are ramping up efforts. B. Braun announced to CBS News its initiative to “increase production at our pharmaceutical manufacturing sites in Irvine, California, and Daytona Beach, Florida, focusing on critical IV fluids.”
The IV fluid shortage recalls a similar situation following Hurricane Maria in 2017, which disrupted a major supplier in Puerto Rico. Reflecting on this, Biddinger said, “Having experienced similar challenges in the wake of Hurricane Maria in 2017, we continue to be mindful of how we manage the supply of these medications to ensure minimal impact on our patients. Hospital operations continue as normal and patient care remains unaffected.”
