The ongoing shortage of IV saline solutions, exacerbated by a relentless flu season and manufacturing disruptions of IV mini-bags following Hurricane Maria, is causing care costs to rise in Wisconsin, reports the Wisconsin Public Radio.
Here are five things to know.
1. IV saline bags were in short supply prior to the manufacturing disruptions and severe flu season, but both of these factors are stretching resources thin — particularly for mini-saline bags, which hospitals often use to administer medicine to patients.
2. To mitigate the saline shortages, many hospitals are employing alternative strategies, such as administering drugs using syringes, switching patients to the same medication in pill form or using larger IV bags. These alternatives pose different challenges, including new supply shortages, explains Ann Zenk, RN, Wisconsin Hospital Association vice president of workforce and clinical practice.
"It's the domino effect," Ms. Zenk said. "We started with IV solution shortages in small bags used to administer medication, and mitigation strategies cause increased use of syringes and larger volume IV bags, so we are now seeing shortages of those key supplies."
3. Not only do these alternatives cause domino-like supply chain disruptions, but in the case of syringes, the time it takes to prescribe, dispense and administer a drug can quadruple. In particular, administering a drug via a syringe requires more attention from pharmacists and nurses must physically administer the IV to the patient. This workflow change increases healthcare costs and stretches staff thin.
"[C]linicians have been forced to develop resource intensive workarounds that reduce efficiency and increase healthcare costs," explained Ms. Zenk.
4. According to a survey of nearly 70 hospital and health systems in Wisconsin conducted by the Wisconsin Hospital Association, 86 percent of hospitals are using conservation strategies to mitigate the shortages. However, nearly half of the hospitals using conservation strategies reported these alternatives are significantly impacting staffing, scheduling and other operations.
5. Although the FDA has already implemented strategies to remedy the shortage by allowing certain saline products to be imported from other countries and approving new saline, hospitals nationwide are still concerned about the availability of the products. The Wisconsin Hospital Association is urging state lawmakers to lobby the FDA for more long-term solutions.