The largest hospital and healthcare system in Massachusetts has postponed some surgeries due to a nationwide IV fluid shortage .
Mass General Brigham on Sunday started rescheduling all non-emergent, elective medical procedures at all hospitals in its network, moving them back to at least Wednesday.
Baxter International, a healthcare company that distributes about 60% of the nation’s IV fluid, had to close its largest manufacturing facility in North Carolina a few weeks ago due to Hurricane Helene’s devastating flooding.
Mass General Brigham says they’re only getting about 40% of the fluid they normally receive and at this time, they’re unsure when their supplies will improve but continue to closely monitor the situation.
“You never know when a patient will go bad. You have to have the stuff you need,” said Nora Watts, a nurse at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. “You got to know that when someone comes in hemorrhaging you have that fluid to start that.”
Katie Murphy, president of the Massachusetts Nurses Association, added, “There’s some trepidation…This is affecting real people, real lives.”