PINE BLUFF, Ark. — A national problem is hitting Arkansas.
Hospitals across the country, including some in Arkansas, are facing a shortage of IV fluids, but they're adjusting to serve patients as best they can.
"The shortage has been very scary," Kelly Baker said. "As someone who is completely reliant on fluids for all of my hydration and to function, it's been a big impact."
Baker isn't the only one affected.
Hurricane Helene damaged a North Carolina factory that produces IV fluids, and now the Baxter International plant has started limiting supply.
That leaves patients like Baker with less fluids than they usually get, which she said isn't ideal for her chronic condition.
"I'm running about half the amount I was before to get by," Baker said. "It's definitely a lot harder, and my quality of life isn't quite as good."
At Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Pine Bluff, the Administrative Director for Supply Chain and Support Services, Larry Kennedy, said they're trying to make sure patients have what they need, even though it may look a little different.
"We're doing substitutes, compounding some products," Kennedy said. "Instead of using premix from the manufacturer, which is not available, we'll compound here locally. If a patient can take an oral fluid versus intravenous fluid, if they're dehydrated, we're doing some of that; it really just depends on the procedure and what's going on at the time."
Kennedy said the hospital is down 40% from what they usually order.
"Especially any hospital that's a Baxter facility, such as us, we are feeling the stress," Kennedy said. "However, we have a pretty solid team in place that's put in some immediate mitigation strategies to help us maintain and conserve fluids."
They'll continue to conserve for the next few months as the Baxter plant works to bring back full production.
Baxter said their goal is to begin resuming production as soon as possible and in phases by the end of this year.