How infusion pumps can aid your conservation plan during the shortage

IV fluids shortage overview

1. How important are IV fluids?
2. Hurricane Helene’s impact on Baxter’s manufacturing plant
3. Recommendations from Baxter and other health entities
4. How can Soma help?
5. Final Thoughts

How important are IV fluids?

IV fluids are a vital component of patient care in hospitals worldwide. These fluids are intended for hydration and medication delivery. However, due to recent events like Hurricane Helene, hospitals have faced ongoing shortages, making it increasingly challenging to maintain proper care standards.

Understanding the Crisis

According to the FDA, some IV fluid shortages began years before 2024, but hospitals have shown remarkable resilience, maintaining regular operations regardless. However, the situation worsened with Hurricane Helene, which caused significant flooding and damage at Baxter’s Marion, North Carolina facility, a critical supplier of IV fluids. Baxter produces approximately 60% of the IV fluids used in U.S. hospitals, and the temporary closure of their plant has had nationwide repercussions.

Hurricane Helene’s impact on Baxter’s manufacturing plant

Since Helene, hospitals have faced severe shortages of essential IV fluids, including normal saline, irrigation fluids, and dextrose solutions. Many hospitals have resorted to postponing non-urgent surgeries and using alternative electrolyte fluids like Gatorade and Pedialyte to mitigate the shortage. (see all impacted Baxter’s items here)

After temporary holds, Baxter has resumed limited shipments, with allocations increasing from 40% to 60% for direct customers and distributors. However, full recovery is expected at the end of the year, with Baxter aiming to reach 90% of regular allocations by December 2024.

Recommendations from Baxter and other health entities

Baxter and other healthcare organizations, including the Pediatric Pandemic Network, have guided hospitals in coping with the IV fluid shortage with a conservation plan. These recommendations include the following:

• Prioritizing usage, reserve IV fluids for patients who cannot take oral fluids.
• Prioritizing vulnerable patient populations, such as pediatric and neonatal patients, to meet their needs.
• Substituting oral fluids or alternative medication delivery routes (such as intramuscular or subcutaneous injections) where appropriate.
• Evaluating product allocation strategies for better management of resources across hospital departments.

How can we help?

At Soma Tech, we understand the strain the current IV fluid shortage places on healthcare providers. As a leading medical equipment provider, we are committed to supporting hospitals during this crisis. One way to mitigate the impact of this shortage is to use our high-quality refurbished infusion pumps. Here are some general examples of how they can help:

• Extended Bag Usage: Infusion pumps allow for controlled, slower administration of fluids, which can help make a single saline bag last longer by delivering it over a more extended period without waste.
• Reduced Waste: Pumps can minimize the risk of human error in manual drip control, which might give more fluid than needed. They prevent overhydration or unnecessary fluid administration.
• Alerts for Bag Change: Pumps can alert healthcare providers when fluid levels are low, preventing premature bag changes and allowing for full use of each bag.
• Small-Volume Infusions: Infusion pumps can manage smaller IV bags for slow or low-dose infusions.

Some of the infusion pumps we offer:

• BD Alaris PCU 8015 & BD Alaris Pump Module 8100
  • Integrates powerful analytics, offering detailed insights into infusion data to enhance decision-making.
  • Designed for bag, bottle, or syringe delivery, providing flexibility for alternative infusion methods.

• Baxter Sigma Spectrum IV Pump
  • Features Dose Error Reduction Software (DERS) for enhanced patient safety.
  • Integrates with the hospital’s EMR system to facilitate patient care tracking.

Utilizing these reliable refurbished infusion pumps allows hospitals to efficiently administer IV fluids, medications, and blood products even when supplies are limited.

Final Thoughts

The ongoing IV fluid shortage severely challenges hospitals nationwide, exacerbated by natural disasters like Hurricane Helene. As hospitals adapt by delaying non-urgent procedures and implementing conservation strategies, refurbished infusion pumps from Soma Tech offer a viable solution for managing limited supplies.

Soma Tech is committed to supporting healthcare facilities by offering high-quality refurbished equipment that can help reduce the pressure caused by shortages and ensure continued patient care. Contact us today for more information or to request a quote on our refurbished infusion pumps. We’re here to help you navigate the IV fluid shortage and ensure continued patient care.