Hurricane Helene caused flooding at the largest IV fluid factory in the US, leading to a shortage of IV bags. Hospitals are rationing supplies and reevaluating their use of IV fluids, with some seeing an opportunity to question traditional practices. Some facilities are conserving by giving medications intravenously without a dedicated IV bag and encouraging patients to drink fluids instead of relying on IVs. The factory has reopened but is not yet at full production capacity. Some hospital administrators anticipate dealing with the shortage through the end of the year.
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