New York hospitals brace for IV fluid shortage due to hurricanes

Hospitals in New York are making contingency plans for intravenous fluids that could be temporarily cut off due to the severe storms in the South that have seriously damaged one plant in North Carolina and now threaten a second in Florida.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is considering allowing shipments from overseas and extending the shelf life of some products. It also encouraged providers and health systems to conserve IV fluids even if they are not experiencing a shortage currently.

Most of the nation’s supply comes from two facilities in the South. One large manufacturing plant in North Carolina was damaged by rain and storm surge from Hurricane Helene at the end of September. A plant in Daytona, Florida, could be impacted by Hurricane Milton, which made landfall on the state’s west coast Wednesday night. The company, B. Braun, said it worked with federal officials to temporarily move inventory to a temperature-controlled site north of Florida.

Brian Conway, a spokesman for the trade group Greater New York Hospital Association, said state health systems have a "respectable inventory right now" but are conserving their supplies.

"Just to be safe, they're engaging in mitigation strategies," he said. "They'll probably do that for the foreseeable future as this plays out, but we're very mindful that this could go from concerning to bad."

Clinicians use IV fluids to help restore fluids, administer blood products or medications, or as a way to get nutrition when there are problems with a person’s gastrointestinal tract. Common fluids include sterile water, saline and dextrose.

"There are options that institutions have with their inventory that in no way, shape or form compromise patient care," Conway said.

State Health Commissioner James McDonald issued a statement Wednesday afternoon saying that the agency is "working closely with hospitals, health facilities and emergency responders within the state to issue guidance and to respond to critical needs as they are identified."

McDonald also said the department is surveying facilities to check supplies.

"It's encouraging to see that federal officials are reportedly seeking to approve shipments of additional IV fluids from overseas to help address this challenge," he said.

Catholic Health officials said the potential shortage currently has no impact on patient care and that it is "implementing a proactive strategy to stay ahead of the situation."

Baxter, which owns the North Carolina plant, said on its website that it is increasing manufacturing at its locations outside the United States and increasing allocation levels of its highest demand IV fluids. Additional IV solutions and nutrition products will be sent to designated children’s hospitals.

By Lisa L. Colangelo

lisa.colangelo@newsday.com@lisalcolangelo

Lisa joined Newsday as a staff writer in 2019. She previously worked at amNewYork, the New York Daily News and the Asbury Park Press covering politics, government and general assignment.