For Providers

Simple steps to help ensure supply of IV fluid bags

Recent events have caused supply chain concerns for much of the U.S.

Corewell Health supply chain and pharmacy teams are monitoring the impacts of Hurricane Helene closely to understand how this might impact our supply chain. At this time, about 60 items from Baxter’s North Cove, NC, manufacturing plant have been flagged as impacted products, including large volume IV and peritoneal dialysis solutions.

To be stewards of the current inventory, and reduce waste of IV fluid bags, we are asking clinicians and providers to do the following:
 
Providers: 

  • Judiciously assess need for IV fluids. 
  • Ensure timely discontinuation of IV fluids.
  • Consider if oral hydration is sufficient to replace maintenance IV fluids.

Nursing teams: 

  • Ensure each IV fluid bag is empty before hanging a new IV fluid bag.
  • Double check that the IV fluid order is still active before bringing a new IV fluid bag into the patient room and do not bring extra IV fluid bags into patient rooms until needed. 
  • Encourage fluid hydration as medically appropriate or by provider order.
Pharmacy and supply chain will continue to mitigate supply shortage risks by monitoring the continuity of supply, specifically for patient-critical products and our stock of fast-moving items. Additionally, the purchasing team has placed immediate orders to become one of the first in line to receive critical, impacted products.

Please refrain from hoarding and email commandcenter@corewellhealth.org if you have any questions or concerns. Visit Product Disruption Information to stay current on supply conservation announcements.   
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