By Lindsay Antaya

Earlier this fall, a Category 4 storm, Hurricane Helene, severely impacted the Southeastern United States. The region faced unprecedented flooding and strong winds, leaving over 5.5 million households and businesses without electricity. For many, the storm’s impact was personal and immediate. But the storm’s aftermath has also rippled far beyond state lines, affecting healthcare systems nationwide.

Among the hardest-hit businesses was Baxter International’s North Cove manufacturing plant in Marion, North Carolina. This facility produces an estimated 60 percent of the nation’s IV fluids, a critical resource for hospitals across the country.

IV fluids are essential for delivering hydration, antibiotics, pain management, and various medications to patients. The temporary closure of this major supplier has led to a nationwide shortage that has sent hospitals into crisis mode to manage dwindling supplies. This has also emerged as a major national and local news story, with climate resilience growing as a point of focus for healthcare systems.

Impact on Hospitals

In response, many hospitals, particularly those heavily reliant on Baxter’s IV solutions, have been forced to ration IV fluid usage. Some hospitals have been vocal about their decision to delay or pause elective surgeries and procedures to conserve their remaining IV fluid inventory. In a sector where IV fluids are foundational to nearly every patient’s treatment, these measures highlight the serious impact of Baxter’s temporary closure.

Other hospitals have held off on commenting publicly, and instead are monitoring Baxter’s progress towards reopening and waiting to delay any procedures. On October 31st, Baxter announced that it restarted its highest-throughput IV solution manufacturing line, but these products will not be ready for distribution for at least a month. In the meantime, many facilities continue to implement conservation protocols such as limiting IV fluid and reserving supplies for the most critical cases, in addition to utilizing alternative methods of administering medications or hydrating patients.

As climate change accelerates, many health systems are updating their emergency preparedness to account for  extreme weather events that previously seemed near impossible for the region.

Climate Change and Healthcare Resilience

This shortage also brings attention to a broader issue in healthcare resilience and the impact of climate change on supply chains. As severe weather events become more frequent and intense, hospitals and healthcare systems are beginning to re-evaluate their emergency preparedness plans to account for weather-related incidents that previously seemed unlikely for their region. Part of this preparedness includes diversifying supply chains. Having multiple suppliers for critical resources such as IV fluid can help ensure continuity in care when natural disasters strike.

The situation with Baxter’s North Cove plant highlights the widespread potential impact of weather-related incidents and underscores the importance of comprehensive emergency preparedness. As media coverage around the IV fluid shortage continues and climate resilience grows as a focus, we also see the value in integrating communications planning and emergency preparedness.

Strong internal and external communications strategies are critical for healthcare systems to assure patients, communities, and employees that they are ready to adapt with severe weather as it comes. We have learned that building resilience is no longer just a recommendation but a necessity for healthcare organizations.