Hospitals in the region working around a nationwide intravenous solution shortage caused by Helene

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The nation's largest supplier of intravenous fluids has been rationing shipments to hospitals through the country, including to our region, after its North Carolina manufacturing plant was damaged during Hurricane Helene.

At Main Line Health, the IV solution shipment has been reduced by 40% to 50%, according to Dr. Jon Stallkamp, the chief medical officer.

"We are really looking to conserve IV solutions. Our IV solutions are used really in everything.  We changed the amount of fluid that we use in our hospitals. We are also encouraging a lot more oral hydration in our hospitals.  We are encouraging people to drink Gatorade and to drink more water to make sure they stay hydrated."

Some health care systems in the country — like in Minnesota, Ohio, and South Carolina — have postponed surgeries because of the IV fluid shortage.

“We have not decided to postpone or cancel any surgeries and we hope not to.”

The American Hospital Association, which represents all hospitals across the country, sent a letter to President Joe Biden, urging him to declare a public health emergency because of the shortage of IV solutions.

The AHA wants the federal government to get the plant operational as soon as possible, to speed up the production through other suppliers and to allow American hospitals to import IV solutions from Europe.

"If you remember, it wasn't that long ago when baby formula was in short supply and the Defense Department was flying baby formula from Europe into the United States. That's another option, unless that supply continues to improve quickly."