The health system, which serves Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia, has adopted new practices around fluid management, a shift that it plans to continue as part of a broader “fluid stewardship” program.
Bonnie Levin, vice president of pharmacy services at MedStar, said fluid stewardship is now considered a permanent clinical practice alongside resource-management practices like antibiotic and opioid stewardship.
The decision to reduce IV fluid use acknowledges a growing consensus among clinical leaders that perioperative fluids had become routinely overused. MedStar’s response to the shortage has focused on reimagining fluid use within enhanced recovery after-surgery care pathways, which emphasize evidence-based practices to speed up recovery after surgery.
Following the IV shortage, MedStar made rapid changes to its system, including revising over 300 order sets and more than 2,500 IV-related order sentences. In many cases, the revised orders favored oral hydration over routine IV fluid use.
Becker’s 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit is the top tier event that the people leading the future of pharmacy convene. This 3-day event is built specifically for Chief Pharmacy Officers and senior pharmacy leaders. The sessions examine the workforce, financial and clinical priorities shaping pharmacy today. Becker’s is where candid discussions flourish and new ideas thrive. Becker's 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit
