Effects of an IV fluid shortage in Arizona’s hospitals

Banner Health, Arizona’s largest healthcare system, is holding off on some elective surgeries due to a nationwide IV fluid shortage. Baxter International, the leading supplier of IV fluids, is still shut down after Hurricane Helene slammed North Carolina last month. The plant is responsible for about 60% of the country’s supply of IV fluids. Valleywise is also seeing shortages.

Dr. Frank LoVecchio of ASU College of Health Solutions, who is also an ER doctor at Valleywise Health, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss the real effects of the shortage on Arizonans needing medical care.

“Right now the hospitals in general usually have about a four-week supply backed up of IV fluid so you don’t have too much, but you want to make sure you have enough, and right now they’re under 10 days supply on average. The good news is we are hoping by Thanksgiving, they are going to be replenished,” Dr. LoVecchio said.

Since the damage to Baxter International, the Biden Administration has gotten involved by invoking wartime powers of the Defense Production Act to help speed up rebuilding the facility damaged by the hurricane. The law was previously used to help boost the manufacturing of healthcare supplies during the pandemic.