Renown's Response
The recent hurricanes in the south have impacted the nation's largest IV fluid suppliers. Renown Health, like most health systems, is receiving a limited supply of IV fluid products. Physicians are asked to help conserve available IV bags to manage our supply.
You can help by following the below IV Fluid conservation techniques:
- Use lowest possible volume
- Consider conserving larger volume bags by using mini bags (100 mL) for blood product administration when appropriate
- Consider using 500mL NS bags for pressurized hemodynamic monitoring lines instead of 1,000 mL bags
- Saline lock PIVs whenever possible
- Extending use of current IVFs
- Hang time for non-additive fluids (maintenance IVFs) is increasing from 72 to 96 hours
- Finish the bag of fluids currently running during care transitions (ED-to-inpatient, etc) before starting a new bag or new orders
- IDT Rounds prioritization
- Ensure ordered fluids are appropriate and escalate to MD for saline lock if not already ordered
- Question IVF needs per patient: review patients with continuous infusions at higher rates and patients who are eating and drinking
- Question if IV medications can be switched to oral medications in eligible patients
- Question if continuous IV medications can be switched to IV push when appropriate
- Review strategies to promote oral fluid resuscitation and potassium replacement
- Central lines & ports
- Consider central lines that are receiving infusions >12 hour frequency and could be switched to hep lock