Michigan hospitals conserve IV fluid after hurricane causes shortage

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Health care providers are grappling with a shortage of IV fluids as the nation’s largest supplier continues to recover from Hurricane Helene.

As Hurricane Helene swept through western North Carolina in late September, flooding temporarily closed Baxter International’s North Cove plant. According to the American Hospital Association , the plant manufactures 60% of IV fluids for hospitals nationwide.

“That doesn’t mean they make 60% for every hospital. Some hospitals are not customers of Baxter, so this had minimal impact on them. Other customers use much more than 60%,” said Laura Appel, an executive vice president of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association.

The pause in production has led to a shortage of resources.

“What most people are probably familiar with having an IV is for using that to move the medication into your body,” Appel said.

On its website , Baxter says more than 2,500 workers at their North Cove plant are returning to work and production will restart in phases through the end of the year.

In the meantime, Appel said Michigan health care systems are making adjustments.

“I would say with few exceptions, I believe just about every health system in the state is doing what are called conservation measures,” Appel said.

Through statements, medical providers in West Michigan shared how they are dealing with the shortage.

“University of Michigan Health anticipates a supply shortage in the coming weeks of large volume IV fluids because of the Baxter International situation. Baxter is not our only supplier, but to address expected shortages, we have instituted multiple conservation measures to optimize our current supply, such as not using infusion bags for non-clinical purposes and avoiding initiating fluids on patients for whom there is another clinically appropriate option. Patient safety is our top priority, and we have a dedicated team working on these measures to ensure our high-quality care is not impacted by this shortage,” University of Michigan Health wrote.

“We are closely monitoring the situation. We are confident in our ability to meet patient needs at this time. We are in regular communication with Baxter and are encouraging our teams to conserve IV fluids when possible,” Corewell Health wrote.

Trinity Health added that it does not expect significant effects in the short term but are continuing to monitor the situation.

Also to address the issue, Baxter has received approval to import IV fluid products from international facilities.

“Over the weekend, the federal government expected to see air traffic with supply on it from those offshore countries,” Appel said.

Appel said she is encouraged that Baxter is making progress. Right after the hurricane, she said hospitals were allocated 40% of their usual deliveries and now that number is around 60%.

She also has not heard of medical facilities in Michigan having to postpone procedures because of the issue.

“Anybody who is concerned about whether or not everything is ok, where they’re scheduled to have a procedure in the next few days that they would reach out to that facility,” Appel said.

In 2017, Baxter facilities in Puerto Rico were affected by Hurricane Maria.

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