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.
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.
