The Maryland Department of Health requests counties’ assistance in sharing vital information with healthcare providers following the shutdown of a significant IV solution production facility.
Earlier this week, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) hosted a briefing providing updates and next steps regarding the Baxter Plant closure and its effects on IV fluids. The department is working to assess the ramifications caused by the closure of the Baxter Plant in North Carolina due to Hurricane Helene. This plant is a critical supplier, providing 60% of IV solutions in the United States. The department urged county leaders to stay informed and prepared to support local health facilities.
The plant closing has slowed production and diminished stockpiles of IV fluid. This presents a pressing concern for healthcare, as IV fluids are vital to various treatments and patient care. MDH sent a survey to hospitals and healthcare providers to gather data on current IV fluid stockpiles. This survey is critical for helping the state monitor supplies in real-time. It also assesses the scale of disruptions across Maryland’s healthcare network. Continuous monitoring will enable proactive steps to mitigate the effects. The department is working with medical facilities to assess the issue’s impact on healthcare delivery in Maryland counties.
The department’s ask of county leaders is to share the importance of conservation measures with local health departments, hospitals, and other providers. The department shared a clinician letter urging conservation measures such as:
- Substituting oral rehydration for IV fluids where applicable.
- Using hep-lock IVs (small devices to maintain vein access) instead of hanging IV bags.
- Administering medicine through IV pushes rather than leaving IV bags continuously attached.
It is critically important that healthcare facilities like hospitals, long-term care centers, and dialysis centers are putting these efforts into place. These measures have proven effective, with hospitals reporting they can reduce IV bag usage by 30-40%. While federal partners have not yet declared a national shortage, and thus, the Strategic National Stockpile has not been released, MDH is collaborating with them to escalate Maryland’s situation. Suppliers have cut back current supplies, which can no longer meet demands. The department stated that regional and statewide shortages are still experienced even without a national shortage.
As the situation unfolds, county leaders and local health departments play a pivotal role in properly circulating resources and information.
View resources and updates from the Maryland Hospital Association.
Read the clinician letter from the Maryland Department of Health (MDH).
Stay tuned to Conduit Street for more information.
