Marshall Takes Proactive Measures to Respond to National IV Fluid Shortfall

As has been reported in the national media, Hurricane Helene severely damaged one of the major suppliers of intravenous (IV) fluids used to care for patients. As a result, supplies across the country are limited and may take many weeks to be restored.

Marshall, along with many other hospitals, is impacted and is doing everything possible to preserve the supplies we have on hand to best enable care to our patients and the community. The availability of IV fluids is critical to the care of some patients. To preserve supplies for these situations, some non-urgent procedures at Marshall are being deferred.

This is a temporary and precautionary measure to safeguard our existing stock and ensure availability for emergency procedures to best serve our community. Marshall is actively monitoring the situation, continually planning and adjusting our response, and communicating with suppliers and partners.

Hospitals and healthcare facilities across the nation are experiencing similar limitations and are taking the same precautions as Marshall.

Baxter International’s North Carolina manufacturing plant suffered severe flooding caused by Hurricane Helene leading to a temporary closure and reducing shipments to healthcare facilities. Baxter is the nation’s largest IV fluid manufacturer, accounting for an estimated 60% of the IV fluid market in the United States. Concurrently, the nation’s second largest producer of IV fluids was also forced to temporarily close two of its facilities in Florida due to Hurricane Milton. Other factors, including a brief strike at ports on the east coast and Gulf ports had already led to supply constraints on certain IV products.

There is currently no timeline for a return to services as normal, but in the meantime, Marshall is doing everything possible to manage our stock and to seek additional supplies.