
(DCWatchdog.com) – In a new public health conundrum, this time caused by a natural calamity – Hurricane Helene – America faces a potential healthcare crisis as vital intravenous fluid supplies dwindle following the closure of a key production facility in North Carolina.
See a report and a photo from the hurricane devastation in the tweet below!
The unsettling reality is that our healthcare industry’s supply chain is far more vulnerable to natural disasters than many realize, raising questions about the nation’s readiness for calamities, reports have disclosed.
Several U.S. hospitals are grappling with a shortage of IV fluids after Hurricane Helene severely impacted Baxter International’s production facility in Marion, North Carolina.
This plant is a major producer, accounting for 60% of the country’s IV fluid supply.
The closure highlights an urgent need for strategic planning and resource allocation to prevent disruptions in healthcare delivery.
Baxter International’s North Carolina facility remains shuttered due to extensive flooding, and the company is actively collaborating with federal agencies to mitigate these supply chain disruptions.
This shortage of IV fluids poses a critical issue, as they are indispensable for procedures like surgeries and treatments for dehydration.
Mass General Brigham faces a drastic supply cut, receiving only 40% of the usual shipments.
“Remediation efforts are already underway, and we will spare no resource — human or financial — to resume production and help ensure patients and providers have the products they need,” said José (Joe) E. Almeida, chair, president, and chief executive officer at Baxter, cited by CBS News.
Other manufacturers, such as B. Braun and ICU Medical, are stepping up to meet the demand. B. Braun’s production facilities were unaffected by the hurricane and are concentrating efforts on critical fluid production.
The healthcare sector has faced similar challenges before, notably during Hurricane Maria in 2017.
Lessons from the past compel hospitals to manage supplies prudently and explore conservation models to minimize patient impact.
The shutdown impacts critical medical product supplies, affecting major facilities like Duke University Health System.
They are exploring resource-saving models to cope with the potential shortages that lie ahead.
To navigate the crisis, Baxter has put a 48-hour hold on distribution to evaluate the supply line status.
They are implementing strict allocations based on previous usage to ensure a fair distribution.
“[Baxter has] published their action items, and they have announced to us that they’re putting a hold on all distribution for 48 hours to understand what they have in their supply line, and then they’re going to be setting up pretty strict allocations based on prior usage to make sure that everyone is getting their fair share based on their volume and their needs,” Almeida told ABC News.
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has declared a public health emergency in North Carolina.
Federal personnel have been deployed to assist the affected healthcare facilities in this time of crisis.
Helene ravaged the NC plant that makes 60% of the country’s IV fluid supply | arsTechnica
There is currently no timeline for when the plant will be able to reopen.
Hurricane Helene's catastrophic damage and flooding to the Southeastern states may affect the country's medical… pic.twitter.com/cM0B1djsKE
— Owen Gregorian (@OwenGregorian) October 5, 2024
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