San Joaquin General Hospital prepares for IV fluid shortage after Helene shuts down plant

San Joaquin General Hospital is warning of an IV fluid shortage after Hurricane Helene damaged the manufacturing plant of one of the nation's largest suppliers.

Baxter International, a health care and medical technology company in North Carolina, said its North Cove facility in Marion was affected by flooding due to the storm and is currently closed for production. The plant manufactures 60% of the country's supply of IV solutions and produces 1.5 million bags per day, raising concerns about a potential nationwide shortage.

IV fluids are used to deliver drugs or water with electrolytes directly into a patient’s bloodstream. They're also important for surgery and used when a patient is unable to eat or drink to keep them hydrated.

“SJGH is monitoring the situation in partnership with the California Hospital Association and American Hospital Association to mitigate impacts to our patients,” said Belva Snyder, chief nursing officer of San Joaquin General Hospital. “Staff will meet three times weekly to modify non-emergency procedures until IV fluid inventory levels stabilize.”

The California Hospital Association said it is in close communication with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to provide hospitals and health care systems with updated information as it becomes available.

The Food and Drug Administration is working with Baxter's other manufacturing facilities to increase supply and reduce the risk of new shortages until the damaged North Carolina plant can resume manufacturing operations. Baxter has said it will leverage its global manufacturing network to help mitigate potential supply impacts.

In the meantime, San Joaquin General Hospital has implemented temporary protocols to minimize disruptions to healthcare services.

Some of those protocols include taking stock of current inventories and securing supplies through existing contracts with other facilities or suppliers where possible, and documenting and monitoring fluid usage, patient needs, and current and projected shortages, according to hospital officials.

Hospital officials said they are also integrating tighter controls on all critically short IV fluids, collaborating with clinical teams to serve patients in critical need of impacted IV solutions, and identifying alternative sources of solutions and medications.

There is no projected timeline for Baxter to return to full-time production.

Record reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at hworkman@recordnet.com or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow .

This article originally appeared on The Record: San Joaquin General Hospital prepares for IV fluid shortage after Helene shuts down plant