Some ER patients are half as likely to receive IV fluids since disruptions from Hurricane Helene [Video]

Patients visiting emergency departments for dehydration or nausea are half as likely to receive IV fluids now than they were before Hurricane Helene exacerbated supply shortages, according to an analysis of health records by Truveta Research.When the storm hit western North Carolina last month, flooding and other damage halted production at Baxter’s North Cove manufacturing facility. The site typically provides about 60% of IV fluids to hospitals across the US, and the disruptions have led to multiple new shortages.The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said earlier this month that “supply disruption may impact patient care and require adjustments to the clinical management of patients.” To minimize the impact on patients, federal agencies and professional organizations recommended that health care providers develop strategies to conserve resources, including substituting for oral hydration such as Gatorade or Pedialyte whenever possible and continuous assessment of the clinical need for IV fluids.The changes …