(AP) - Surgery schedules around the country may be washed out for several more weeks while a crucial IV and sterile fluids factory remains shut down for hurricane-related damage.
People often plan non-emergency surgeries in the fall and early-winter months when their insurance coverage will pick up more of the bill, but they may have to wait while health systems preserve supplies for emergencies.
I wonder what combination of legislative capture and bribery resulted in there being only ONE place in the US that manufactures IV fluids.
ReplyDeleteJohn G.
With all the offshoring of medical equipment manufacturing I'm surprised there is even ONE plant left in the US to make and fill IV bags. Far too many industries were ripped away from the US by MBA bean counters chasing the last possible penny of quarterly profit, ignoring the hazards of having someone else (who hates us) make everything.
ReplyDeleteBring those industries back home and the middle class will recover.
Incidentally, a lot of the I.V. production is done on that pile of garbage floating in the Atlantic. Baxter International Inc. which owns the currently inoperable I.V. North Cove, NC plant also has three I.V. manufacturing facilities in Puerto Rico.
ReplyDeleteTax breaks for doing business in PR have been around since the 1970s and before.
DeleteI am not yet seeing any shortages.
ReplyDeleteI was in for a procedure first thing this past Monday AM. I got fluids but was told I was lucky as supplies were low
DeleteOddly enough, we have IV administering facilities here that give fluids on demand, even labeling some with additives as 'hangover remedies' and 'workout recovery remedies'. When my mom was very sick and dehydrated, I took her to one to avoid the 4+ hour ER bullshit. Had a half-liter of saline administered, cost about $125 for the session. They were afraid to give her too much at once, although she should had more it still helped tremendously.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.restorationhydration.com/
Ed
That plant is in at least a 500' deep valley with the North Fork of the Catawba River running right next to the plant. So, you had mud coming from the mountain on its east side, plus north from numerous small tributaries. If it's open by January, I'd be amazed, especially if there's an early snowfall. Drove down the mountain on the BRP & US 221 through there 2-3 times/month.
ReplyDeleteI was affected by this but managed to resupply just before I ran out. I guess I was lucky. - Joely
ReplyDelete