Low Water Bridge in Fries, VA destroyed by Hurricane Helene. Credit: Timothy/Adobe Stock
Hospitals nationwide are concerned about the availability of critical intravenous solutions and other essential medical supplies in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and the longshoremen's strike that briefly closed numerous major ports.
Baxter International, the largest U.S. manufacturer of IV solutions, temporarily closed its Marion, N.C., plant on September 30 because of flooding caused by the hurricane. The following day, more than 45,000 dockworkers across 36 East and Gulf Coast ports went on strike, although the walkout was suspended after the contract between the International Longshoremen's Association and the United States Maritime Alliance was extended into January.
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As a result of these events, "the market will be highly constrained," Jesse Schafer, executive director of the Healthcare Industry Resilience Collaborative, told Becker's Hospital Review.
The Baxter plant closure's impact already is being felt, including in medication shortages and delays in patient care, said Michael Ganio, senior director of pharmacy practice and quality for the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. "Building strong relationships with our suppliers has been crucial," he said. "We need transparency to navigate these uncertainties effectively."
Gaino emphasized the importance of conservation, because stockpiling months' worth of inventory can rapidly deplete what already is in the supply chain. "The primary strategy at this point is to conserve until we know more about what products might become available and about what Baxter's plan might be and how other manufacturers might be able to ramp up production," he said.
Hospitals are taking steps to mitigate the shortages. For example, Mass General Brigham, based in Somerville, Mass., maintains a stockpile of essential medical supplies and has dedicated staff to oversee supply chain resilience efforts. The health system also developed a playbook for emergency preparedness designed to enable swift action when shortages arise. In addition, it has digital tools integrated with electronic health records, which allows the system to notify clinicians in real time about product shortages and suggest other alternative products, when feasible.
Dr. Paul Biddinger, chief preparedness and continuity officer for Mass General Brigham, urges health care leaders to conserve while also focusing on transparent communication and collaboration. "Try your best to take care of your own patients as well as consider the patient community at large, and if you can't sleep well at night, answering the question, 'Am I hoarding at the expense of others?'" he said. "Please reconsider."
Meanwhile, as health care leaders cope with these shortages, Hurricane Milton strengthened to a Category 5 storm on Monday, driving sustained winds of 160 mph, It is expected to make landfall on Florida's already storm-battered Gulf Coast on Wednesday.
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Alan Goforth
Alan Goforth is a freelance writer in suburban Kansas City. In addition to freelancing for several publications, he has written a dozen books about sports and other topics.
