Wisconsin hospitals are rationing IV fluids in the midst of a national shortage, Wisconsin Public Radio reports. The news follows severe damage in September from Hurricane Helene to a North Carolina plant belonging to Baxter, the top IV and irrigation fluids manufacturer in the U.S.
With restoration efforts underway at the plant, Baxter has said the earliest it could start shipping products will be late this month. In the meantime, health systems throughout Wisconsin have worked to manage their supplies and conserve IV fluids. The practices are anticipated to be necessary at least through the end of the year as Baxter ramps up to full production and restocks supplies.
UW Health in an Oct. 8 statement said it was “actively managing the situation,” with no impacts to patient care.
