An exterior view of Columbus Regional Hospital in Columbus, Ind., pictured, Tuesday, March 31, 2020. Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Hospitals in Bartholomew County and the surrounding area are contending with fallout from storm damage to a North Carolina factory earlier this month that makes critical medical supplies that has led to a nationwide shortage of IV fluid.
Schneck Medical Center in Seymour has said it is rescheduling some non-emergency surgeries due to the shortage and is working closely with its suppliers to address the issue and minimize the impact on patient care.
“This decision was made with the safety and well-being of our patients as our top priority,” Schneck President/CEO Dr. Eric Fish said in a statement. “While the IV fluid shortage is a national issue, we are taking every step to ensure that emergency procedures remain unaffected and that patients impacted by this rescheduling are given the earliest possible new dates.”
Columbus Regional Health, for its part, has said it is currently not experiencing any disruptions due to the shortage but has put a conservation plan in place as officials monitor how the situation evolves.
“CRH is currently not experiencing any disruptions due to the national shortage,” said CRH spokeswoman Kelsey DeClue. “Our pharmacists have done an excellent job managing supply, so we’ve not had to suspend or alter any services. We do have a conservation plan active and in-place and so we have a comfortable 30-day supply to be able to continue without disruption. We’re hoping the continued conservation efforts can give us even more of a lead while we see how this shortage continues to evolve over time.”
Earlier this month, flooding triggered by Hurricane Helene hit a Baxter International plant in North Cove, North Carolina, that makes much of the country’s supply of sterile intravenous, or IV, fluids, The Associated Press reported. It also makes fluids used by some patients on home kidney dialysis.
Baxter had to close the factory, which it says is its largest manufacturing facility, employing more than 2,500 people, according to wire reports.
The company also started limiting how much supply customers can order, a restriction designed to prevent stockpiling and keep access equal, and has said it is working with the federal government to temporarily import products.
Baxter has said it aims to restart production at its North Carolina plant in phases by the end of the year and possibly end limits for certain IV solutions by then too, according to wire reports.
In the meantime, the company said its limits would help curb stockpiling and increase equitable access.
IV fluids are essential for a wide range of medical procedures, including surgeries.
Earlier this week, Indiana Hospital Association said hospitals in the state have been “experiencing varying degrees of impact related to the shortage,” including some hospitals that have been forced to “reassess their stock levels and prioritize their current supply for patients in critical need” due to delays in shipments from third party vendors.
“Despite Baxter’s return to 60% production, and the incoming shipments from international suppliers, it could take weeks until some hospitals begin receiving their allocation of IV fluids,” said Indiana Hospital Association Interim President Blake Dye in a statement this week.
