Periop Nurse Emergency Resource Center

While the strike impacting US shipping ports has ended, supply chain disruptions related to extreme weather events continue. AORN is working with industry and association partners to inform you about shortages of medical supplies. Currently, the biggest shortage is for intravenous (IV) fluids. This is caused by the temporary closure of Baxter's North Carolina factory, which was damaged by Hurricane Helene.

Here are top resources for information and planning for supply disruptions:

• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a press release on Wednesday, Oct. 9 on the impacts of Hurricane Helene. Among other items, the release states the “FDA will also expedite consideration of any shelf-life extension requests manufacturers submit for short-dated product.”
• The Pharmacy Practice and Quality at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) has released IV conservation recommendations and operational strategies you should consider at your facility.
• Baxter continues to update its website with information.
• AORN partner Association of Healthcare Value Analysis Professionals (AHVAP) has added information to the emergency resource page for this issue, which is available to all healthcare professionals. 
• AHVAP will moderate an accredited Hot Topics webinar on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024 – 4-5pm ET, to help address ongoing challenges associated with the IV disruptions. The complimentary webinar is open to the healthcare community. Register Now
• Industry Partners at the nonprofit ECRI are providing a tool and functional equivalent report, which identifies the top three alternatives from other manufacturers to the IV and irrigation solutions impacted. Download the ECRI Resource
• NHIA has released this guidance for managing disruptions in manufacturing.
• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a resource on known drug shortages as well. Read more about the current FDA list of drug shortages. You can also sign up for email alerts.

AORN continues to work closely with our partners across healthcare to identify issues and solutions – and we will keep you informed.