LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – The nationwide IV fluid shortage still has a lingering impact across the Las Vegas Valley medical system, and hospitals and clinics are adapting to treat patients with less supplies.
FOX5 has told you how hospitals and clinics across Nevada are taking measures to conserve saline supplies: delays of elective and non-urgent procedures, use of less saline for some patients, and having capable patients drink fluids or take medication orally instead of through an IV.
Hurricane Helene damaged a major plant that manufactures saline supplies. Federal authorities are working with Baxter, who manufactures 60% of the nation’s supply, to get limited quantities to facilities across the U.S. and to patients that need IV fluids the most. Though manufacturing has resumed, supplies will stabilize in January.
Comprehensive Cancer Centers treats patients through radiation and chemotherapy. Doctors shared with FOX5 how patients may get less saline during their treatments yet are given the same amount of medication.
“We were very fortunate. We did not have to delay anybody [with treatment] because of the saline shortage. We did have to modify their treatments: instead of giving them a liter of fluid, we give half a liter of fluid,” said Dr. Rupesh Parikh.
“We’ve had to do a lot of teaching for our patients. That’s where our nurses really came into play…it’s the same medicine, it’s the same drug, just in the less concentration of fluid,” Dr. Parikh said.
The team had experience with prior natural disasters and immediately ordered supplies after the hurricane struck. The centers were also able to share supplies with local hospitals and clinics in need.
One clinic, Desert Cardiovascular Consultants, got some crucial help thanks to our first FOX5 story on the situation.
“We were pretty pretty desperate for IV fluids. Just a couple of weeks ago, we had to shut down some of our elective procedures,” said Dr. Zia Khan. He and his staff took to FOX5 and social media, asking clinics for spare IV bags.
“After Fox 5’s program that aired that night, I was actually really surprised by the response we got,” Dr. Khan said. Emails and calls to offer IV bags came from across the Valley, the country and even abroad.
All elective surgeries that were postponed are back on the schedule.
“Patients are very pleasantly surprised they got calls to reschedule, and now they’re getting calls that we can do it. They were very happy,” Dr. Khan said.
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