Greater Regional Health IV supply unchanged

Greater Regional Health board members were informed Monday by UnityPoint Health Director of Rural Health Resources Teresa Newman of the intravenous fluid supply since Hurricane Helene damaged a North Carolina production plant in September. Greater Regional’s supply is not as risk.

Hurricane Helene’s extensive rain and ensuing flooding in western North Carolina forced manufacturer Baxter to close its North Cove facility in Marion. Opened in 1972, North Cove is Baxter’s largest manufacturing facility and has more than 2,500 employees. The site primarily manufactures intravenous and peritoneal dialysis solutions and is the largest manufacturer of these solutions in the United States.

“Our hearts and thoughts are with all those affected by Hurricane Helene,” said José (Joe) E. Almeida, chair, president and chief executive officer at Baxter in a statement from the American Hospital Association after the hurricane. “The safety of our employees, their families, and the communities in which we operate remains our utmost concern, and we are committed to helping ensure reliable supply of products to patients. Remediation efforts are already underway, and we will spare no resource -- human or financial -- to resume production and help ensure patients and providers have the products they need.”

Greater Regional Chief Nursing Officer Amanda Mohr said Greater Regional’s supply is not from Baxter. Knowing Baxter had provided about 60% of the nation’s health-care providers, Greater Regional will only be allowed what it has historically used until supplies change.

“We can not ask for more,” Mohr said. “We do monitor where we don’t waste fluids.” Greater Regional uses IV for cancer treatments, for example.

Des Moines’ providers are not the same.

“I do not think it has affected many of the rural affiliates, but it has affected us in Des Moines,” Newman said. Des Moines has an insufficient level to practice under normal conditions, Newman said.

“We have been implementing conversation methods with our fluids since last September. We only give IV fluids when it’s absolutely necessary,” she said. Oral fluids are available.

Greater Regional Health is like other hospitals in the state reporting its IV inventory.

Newman said the shortage is expected through winter but is expected to show improvement in the spring. Greater Regional is affliated with UnityPoint Health in Des Moines.

In other Greater Regional Health board news...

Tom Lesan was approved by the board to be the new chairman of the board. Jack Davis was approved as vice chairman and Ken Stults was approved as secretary-treasurer. The changes are part of the board’s shift from seven members to five. Dave Driskell resigned from the board last month and the board has had a vacant seat since December 2022. Julie Lanning and Sherry McKie are the other members, both re-elected in November.

Newman said a Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance settlement has been reached after 10 years of litigation. Blue Cross Blue Shield will pay $2.8 billion to hospitals for not reimbursing physicians properly. Health-care providers have up to 90 days to decide to be included in the settlement. She said UnityPoint has not yet decided.

“Even though 2.8 billion sounds like a lot, divide that across all the health care organizations across the United States,” she said. The settlement will include paying attorney fees.

“We are trying to weigh if it will be worth our time to submit to that,” she said.

Greater Regional Health Chief Financial Officer Matt McCutchan said the hospital has not made a decision.