The following is from MedPage Today.
The US healthcare system continues to grapple with a critical IV fluid shortage caused by Hurricane Helene, which brought catastrophic flooding to North Carolina and heavily damaged Baxter’s North Cove manufacturing facility. Responsible for 60% of the nation’s IV fluid supply, the facility has been steadily working to restore operations, but full recovery is anticipated during the first quarter of 2025.
Baxter has restarted 85% of its manufacturing capacity, according to a December 19 update. Eight of the facility’s 10 manufacturing lines are back online, with some operating near pre-hurricane levels. The company anticipates reaching full pre-hurricane production levels early this year, which would allow distribution channels to normalize shortly after.
Previously, in a December 5 update, Baxter announced the resumption of its 3-liter irrigation manufacturing lines and peritoneal dialysis solutions manufacturing lines. The company also detailed that its IV solutions manufacturing lines had restarted, producing much of the site’s pre-hurricane capacity of 1-liter IV solutions—the size most commonly used in hospitals and clinics.
Despite these efforts, hospitals nationwide remain affected. Many have reduced elective surgeries and adopted alternative hydration methods, such as smaller fluid bags, to manage the shortfall. Nancy Foster, vice president of quality and safety policy at the American Hospital Association, explained:
“While remarkable progress has been made in reactivating Baxter’s plant operations, hospitals are still receiving less than their normal required amounts of these fluids.”
— Nancy Foster, AHA
The shortage has varied regionally, depending on a hospital’s reliance on Baxter as a supplier and its conservation strategies. Foster added:
“We know some hospitals are still restricting access to elective surgeries, and most are using alternative strategies for hydrating patients when possible.”
— Nancy Foster, AHA
While hospitals adapt and Baxter ramps up production, the IV fluid shortage highlights ongoing challenges in managing critical medical supplies during emergencies. The progress made so far offers hope for relief, but hospitals continue to face difficult decisions as they await a full recovery.
For more details, read the full article here.
