A Baxter manufacturing facility in North Carolina that produces 60% of U.S. Medical IV solutions was impacted by Hurricane Helene and production is currently offline. Providence procures 90% of its IV solutions from Baxter. Baxter is assessing its operations and will release a production schedule soon.
Impact to Providence
Providence uses 139 impacted items from this facility, which represents 43% of our total solution volumes. In order to ensure that the most critical patients receive the IV solutions they need, Providence has an organization-wide goal to reduce usage by 40%.
Conservation strategies
In order to meet our usage reduction goal, the following conservation strategies are in place:
- Use alternative IV fluids or solutions when appropriate, such as oral rehydration for non-critical patients.
- Consider smaller volumes or concentrated forms of fluids based on clinical guidelines.
- Explore alternative sources or routes (oral) of equivalent medications.
- Implement evidence-based protocols to optimize IV fluid administration and minimize waste. Eliminate maintenance IV fluids in non-critical patients.
- Shift medications and electrolytes to oral products when clinically appropriate.
- Refrain from spiking IV fluids in advance of need.
- Use the smallest volume IV fluid bag needed for the patient.
- See more recommendations from Pharmacy here.
Other things to know
- You may have seen that the AHA sent an encouraging message that Baxter would be increasing their allocations, however this does not change the situation at Providence at this time.
- In addition, you may have heard that the FDA may be approving manufacturing at alternate sites. Again, this does not change our current situation, and conservation continues to be a must.
- Please do not stockpile, or “hoard,” IV solution in departments. When dealing with a critical product shortage, it is important that supply is available to all in a timely manner, especially our most clinically vulnerable patients.
About the Author
More Content by Providence News Team
