San Antonio Struggles with IV Bag Shortage Following Hurricane Helene’s Impact

San Antonio Faces IV Bag Shortage After Hurricane Helene

San Antonio, Texas — These days, it seems like a lot of people have been experiencing unexpected hurdles in their healthcare journeys, all thanks to a recent IV bag shortage caused by Hurricane Helene. The hurricane hit parts of the Southeast and had a significant impact on the Baxter IV fluid facility in North Carolina, which produces around 60% of the nation’s IV bags. As a result of the damage, the FDA has officially added IV fluids to its list of drug shortages, and this is creating ripples even here in San Antonio.

Personal Stories from the Front Lines

In a hospital not far from us, one patient, Theresa Austin-Ross, shared her shocking experience with the shortage. Admitted to St. Luke’s Baptist Hospital after experiencing stroke-like symptoms, Theresa is no stranger to health struggles, having spent a lot of time in various hospitals. However, this time was different; she didn’t receive an IV bag when she needed one most.

“That’s the first thing they do, is they give you an IV,” she said. “But no IV. I was so dehydrated, and then there I was asking about it, and they’re like, ‘well, there’s an IV bag shortage. We’re just, we’re having to tell the patients to push the water.'” After spending four days in the hospital, she learned that the doctors had to limit IV bag use because of the ongoing shortages linked to the hurricane.

Concerns about Patient Care

Theresa expressed her frustration: “I feel like it’s a pick and choose who gets them, and they shouldn’t have to be that way. I don’t understand why it hasn’t been put out.” Her case highlights a pressing issue as hospitals do their best to manage limited resources during this unprecedented time.

What is Being Done?

We reached out to St. Luke’s Baptist Hospital to understand the gravity of the situation better. They pointed us to the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council, or STRAC, for more details. In a statement, STRAC confirmed that the heavy flooding from Helene caused the Baxter facility to shut its doors temporarily. They also mentioned that all regional hospitals are on high alert and sharing “Mitigation Strategies” to cope with the shortage. Hospital leadership teams have been meeting regularly to monitor IV availability day by day.

This is no small feat, and the STRAC emphasized that the supplies are still “adequate” for now. Thankfully, elective surgeries have not been canceled yet, which allows doctors to continue providing necessary medical care. However, they were unable to confirm when the North Carolina facility might reopen or where hospitals are sourcing their IV bags from in the meantime.

Clinical Impact

Back to Theresa’s experience—she mentioned that her IVs “kept blowing because the medicine was like straight, and it wasn’t diluted.” Unfortunately, even after her hospital stay, she still felt dehydrated, with her lips not feeling right. “I mean, even though I’m trying to push the fluids, my lips still don’t feel good,” she said.

This situation is raising awareness not just about the shortage itself but about the potential lingering effects on patients who need immediate and effective care. Ultimately, this unanticipated shortage has put healthcare systems to the test, revealing just how vital consistent supplies are for treating patients effectively.

Conclusion

As we move forward, it’s crucial for our healthcare facilities to find solutions to ensure that patients like Theresa receive the care they need without unnecessary complications. It’s a challenging time, but with cooperation and awareness, there’s hope that we can navigate through this crisis together in San Antonio and beyond.