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- Feb 16, 2016
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Hospitals take steps to conserve IV fluid supply after Helene strikes critical factory
Baxter International said it would temporarily close production at its North Cove, North Carolina-based facility, raising concerns about a potential nationwide shortage.4 Oct 2024 ~~ By Berkeley Lovelace Jr. and Mustafa Fattah
Hospitals across the U.S. are taking steps to conserve their supplies of IV fluids after Hurricane Helene struck a critical manufacturing plant belonging to the country’s biggest supplier.
Baxter International, a medical technology company responsible for making IV fluids for most U.S. hospitals, said Sunday that it would temporarily close production at its North Cove, North Carolina-based facility because of flooding from Helene, raising concerns about a potential nationwide shortage.
There are four primary manufacturers of IV fluids in the U.S. Baxter is the leader, accounting for about 60% of the market.
IV fluids are used to deliver drugs or water with electrolytes directly into a patient’s bloodstream. They’re also critical for surgery, when a person is unable to eat or drink, to keep them hydrated. Baxter also makes specialty fluids, such as peritoneal dialysis fluid, which helps patients with kidney failure filter waste from their blood, as well as irrigation fluids, used during procedures to clean or flush wounds.
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In a statement published online Thursday, Baxter said it doesn’t yet have a timeline for when operations will be back up and running.
A part of the problem, the company said, is that bridges to its site were damaged in the storm, limiting transport in and out.
Commentary:
Unfortunately the slow actions of this Administration and the director of DHS Mayorkas and his appointee to FEMA have a lot to answer for.
Hopefully, the three other manufactures of IV fluids will be able to take up the shortages of this important material.