Helene impacts North Carolina manufacturing facility that makes IV fluids, dialysis solution

GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP) — A major manufacturing plant that makes hospital IV fluids and dialysis solution had to temporarily shut down production after its facility in North Cove, located in western North Carolina, was damaged by Helene.

Baxter is a top supplier in the country. Some of the people who depend on these kinds of fluids are worried.

“That’s kind of concerning because I use up quite a bit every night in my treatment for my kidneys,” said Patrick Rizzo, a dialysis patient.

Rizzo needs peritoneal dialysis seven days a week. He uses Baxter’s Dialysis Solution and uses 11 liters of the fluid every night.

Dialysis is a treatment for people whose kidneys are failing. Rizzo was set to get a shipment this week but learned at a routine check that it had been canceled.

“It had been canceled,” Rizzo said.

He was instructed to place another order and was told it would come in small batches. He got a call from Baxter, saying that the order had been canceled as well.

Now, he’s worried.

“I have about two weeks’ worth of product in my house … Within two weeks, once I’m done with all my product, I have no idea what to do next,” Rizzo said. “I’m sure I’ll talk to the doctors and find out what they want to do next.”

We reached out to several healthcare systems and dialysis centers, in the Triad which say they are monitoring the situation.

In a statement, Novant Health said, “Novant Health has been notified that we will not receive our full allocation of Baxter products, so we are working to source products from alternative suppliers.”

Cone Health said, “Like hospitals across the country, Cone Health is taking steps to conserve use of IV fluids. these steps include finding substitutes where available and having patients take medications orally when possible.”

A statement from Fresenius Medical Care said, “We can confirm to date there has been no impact on patient care and treatment at our Fresenius Kidney Care dialysis centers.”

“ There’s a lot of people out there that … need the product to survive,” Rizzo said.

A statement released by Baxter said the company has resumed shipments to hospitals and dialysis patients after the temporary hold last week.

They have moved finished goods from the North Cove site that were not impacted by the storm and are inspecting other finished goods onsite.

With no shipment in sight, Rizzo is unsure of what to do once his supply runs low.

“If they didn’t get their product up and going, how many other people will pass away? Rizzo said.

In a statement released on Monday, Baxter said it would communicate any adjustments to allocations directly to providers.

Rizzo has not yet received an update on a potential shipment for his dialysis solution.

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