Indiana hospitals facing national IV fluid shortage 

Indiana hospitals have implemented a comprehensive conservation plan during the ongoing national shortage of IV fluid that has impacted health care facilities and hospitals across the country. Delays in shipments from third party vendors have forced some hospitals to reassess their stock and prioritize the current supply for patients in critical need. Hospitals are experiencing varying degrees of impact.“It could take weeks until some hospitals begin receiving their allocation of IV fluids,” said Blake Dye, interim president of Indiana Hospital Association.The conservation plan includes reviewing and optimizing fluid use for each patient, exploring alternative therapies and prioritizing supply. Some hospitals are rescheduling elective and non-emergent procedures to preserve the IV fluid supply. In these cases, patients will be notified by their provider to reschedule. Emergency care and urgent surgeries remain unaffected.“We’re certainly not alone in this predicament as this is a nationwide shortage impacting every state,” Dye said. “Hoosiers should feel confident that Indiana’s hospitals are managing through the current situation, taking proactive measures that are aligned with clinical best practices and are working diligently to minimize the impact on patient care.”Indiana Hospital Association continues to work with the Indiana Department of Health and the American Hospital Association to assess...