Midland Memorial Hospital has announced the resumption of elective procedures starting Monday, November 11, 2024. This decision follows an improvement in the supply of IV fluids, which had been disrupted due to Hurricane Helene's impact on a key manufacturing facility.
The hurricane caused damage to Baxter’s North Cove plant in North Carolina, a significant supplier of IV fluids nationwide. This led to a shortage that affected hospitals across the country. Midland Memorial Hospital took steps to conserve its existing supplies and secure additional shipments from various suppliers. These efforts have now stabilized the hospital's supply levels.
Dr. Rohith Saravanan, Chief Medical Officer at Midland Memorial Hospital, expressed gratitude for the community's patience during this period. “We are grateful for the understanding and patience of our community, staff and physicians," he said. "Our dedicated teams have made substantial progress in reducing IV fluid utilization through strategic conservation measures, enabling us to move forward cautiously with scheduled elective procedures."
The hospital plans to begin rescheduling elective surgeries on Monday, November 18th. Patients whose procedures were postponed will be given priority in scheduling.
Midland Memorial Hospital continues to emphasize its commitment to patient care and safety as it navigates these challenges.