Hospitals and health systems nationwide are delaying elective or nonemergency procedures to conserve IV fluid supplies amid a national shortage.
More than 80% of healthcare organizations across the nation are facing shortages after Hurricane Helene disrupted operations at Baxter's plant in North Carolina, according to data from Premier. Baxter is working with federal officials to quickly ramp up supplies and expects to regain full capacity by the end of the year. In the meantime, hospitals are deploying various mitigation strategies to conserve IV inventory, including canceling or rescheduling surgeries.
Below are 15 health systems that have delayed procedures, with some having already resumed surgeries, while others continue to defer them. Organizations are listed in alphabetical order.
Note: This list is not exhaustive and will be updated as new information becomes available.
1. Minneapolis-based Allina Health temporarily adjusted nonemergency surgery schedules earlier this month. The health system resumed normal clinical operations at all sites Oct. 10 thanks to "effective conservation efforts and the delivery of additional supplies," a spokesperson told Becker's. Allina is now working to reschedule affected patients' surgeries in a prioritized manner.
"Allina Health anticipates continuing to receive less than normal amounts of IV fluid resources through the end of the year," the spokesperson said. "We will continue many of our conservation efforts and monitor and assess our supplies daily for the foreseeable future."
2. Phoenix, Ariz.-based Banner Health started delaying some elective surgeries Oct. 14, according to The Arizona Republic. "While Banner has received some partial shipments and implemented stringent conservation measures, our current supply is insufficient to safely maintain our usual volume of surgeries," the system said in a stsatement to the publication, adding that it aims to resume normal oeprations as soon as possible.
3. Berkshire Health Systems in Pittsfield, Mass., is postponing nonemergency procedures, including urology and orthopedic operations, amid the shortage, The Berkshire Eagle reported Oct. 10. With just a two to four weeks' supply of IV fluid on hand, the level 3 trauma center is giving some patients Pedialyte and Gatorade to help stretch supplies.
4. Boone Health in Columbia, Mo., has temporarily paused elective surgeries to save IV supplies for emergency care, the Missouri Business Alert reported Oct. 14.
5. Buffalo, N.Y.-based Catholic Health resumed elective surgeries Oct. 11 after a temporary pause to assess IV supplies and implement mitigation measures. The system is slated to resume a full surgical schedule Oct. 14.
6. Forks (Wash.) Community Washington suspended all elective procedures, effective Oct. 7, to conserve supplies for emergency purposes.
7. Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis canceled or rescheduled some nonemergency procedures, a spokesperson told ABC affiliate KSTP on Oct. 7.
8. Huntsville (Ala.) Hospital Health System said it is delaying some nonemergency orthopedic, urology and gynecological surgeries that require a large amount of IV fluids. According to an Oct. 9 report from WAFF 48.
9. Mass General Brigham in Boston has postponed elective surgeries that require IV fluids from Oct. 13 through at least Oct. 16, according to ABC affiliate WCVB. The system said it plans to reassess supply levels by Oct. 15 to determine whether further surgery delays are needed.
10. Minneapolis-based M Health Fairview temporarily postponed elective outpatient procedures and inpatient nonemergency surgeries Oct. 7, according to the Star Tribune. The health system resumed scheduling all surgical cases and procedures as normal on Oct. 11, a spokesperson told Becker's.
11. University of Missouri Health Care in Columbia, Mo., rescheduled about a dozen elective surgeries that require large amounts of IV fluids to later this month, a spokesperson told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The system has not needed to postpone additional procedures since Oct. 11 thanks to conservation efforts.
12. UNC Health in Chapel Hill, N.C., started postponing or rescheduling some nonemergent surgeries at most of its hospitals last week, the system told Becker's Oct. 17. The system said it is working to reschedule cases as soon as possible, noting many hospitals in North Carolina and nationwide are taking similar steps.
13. University of Rochester (N.Y.) Medical Center is pausing some elective and semi-elective surgeries that require IV fluids effective Oct. 16. Leaders will review surgical cases daily to assess urgency and sterile fluid needs, evaluating procedures requiring little to no IV fluid on a case-by-case basis, the organization said Oct. 15.
14. UToledo Health in Ohio was slated to resume most elective surgeries Oct. 14 after pausing them earlier this month due to the shortage, according to The Toledo Blade.
15. Effective Oct. 6, UVA Health in Charlottesville, Va., postponed some elective procedures scheduled at its flagship hospital, UVA Health University Medical Center, along with its campuses in Culpeper, Haymarket and Manassas, Va., according to NBC affiliate WVIR.
Editor's note: This article was updated Oct. 13 at at 6:55 p.m. CT to clarify that Catholic Health is based in Buffalo, N.Y.