As Hurricane Milton is about to make landfall later today, Hurricane Helene’s effects are still being felt by hospitals across the United States, including Indiana Regional Medical Center.
The remnants of Hurricane Helene damaged the Baxter company location in Marion, North Carolina, which produces about 60 percent of IV solutions for hospitals across the nation. The plant’s closure has forced hospitals to find other ways to deal with the supply shortages, including limiting fluid use or finding substitute treatments and techniques. Earlier this week, the American Hospital Association urged the Biden Administration to declare a public health emergency and work with federal agencies to temporarily change rules on IV fluid use, such as using fluids past their expiration date, or importing fluids that are approved by the European Union.
The shortage is affecting Indiana Regional Medical Center. According to a statement from IRMC’s director of materials management Preston Hall, they acknowledge the fluid shortages and while they are impacted, “they are actively conserving IV fluid and collaborating with other suppliers to maintain quality of care and patient safety.”
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