(New York, NY) – Hospitals across the U.S. are facing a shortage of IV fluids due to the impact of Hurricane Helene. A key manufacturing plant in North Cove, North Carolina, which produces 60% of the country’s IV fluids, was damaged by flooding. This has caused hospitals to receive less than half of their usual supply, affecting patient care.
Some hospitals are conserving IV fluids, while others are delaying non-emergency surgeries. Baxter International, the company that runs the North Cove plant, is working to restore production and expects to be back to normal by the end of 2024. In the meantime, their other plants are ramping up production.
The American Hospital Association has asked the Biden Administration to declare a shortage and use the Defense Production Act to increase IV fluid production. Doctors stress the importance of IV fluids for treating many conditions and say hospitals need to work together to handle the shortage by changing how they use fluids and adjusting patient care protocols.
