Resources

HHS, Baxter Announce Additional Mitigation Efforts to Increase Access, Supply of IV Fluids

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Baxter officials have announced additional actions to increase access and supply of IV solutions in response to the effects of Hurricane Helene on Baxter’s manufacturing facility in North Carolina. HHS’ mitigation efforts include increasing international and domestic supply chains. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra joined other Administration leaders and officials from Baxter this afternoon for a call with stakeholders to provide updates on the IV solutions supply disruptions.

CHA Releases Resource Web Page for Nationwide IV Fluid Shortage

What’s happening: As hospitals and other health care providers nationally grapple with the shortage of IV fluids following the temporary closure of Baxter International’s manufacturing plant in Marion, N.C., CHA has compiled federal, state, and local resources to assist hospitals. 

What else to know: Hurricane Helene hit the southeast in early October, causing widespread damage, including the temporary closure of Baxter’s plant — which, pre-Hurricane, manufactured 60% of the nation’s supply of IV solutions, producing 1.5 million bags per day.  

Ambulance Patient Offload Times

Ambulance patient offload times — how long it takes for a patient arriving at a hospital via ambulance to be transferred to an emergency department — are a challenge in many counties in California. Some factors contributing to longer offload times include the physical layout of a hospital, current unprecedented patient volume, increased acuity of patients’ illness or injury, and more. Challenges in the Emergency Department only continue to grow, further straining limited emergency services, and forcing us all to think about how to adapt to a changing world.