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As IV Fluid Shortages Continue Across Nation, Renown is Prepared

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Systems are in place at Renown Health to increase inventory tracking, optimize the distribution of available supplies, and improve communication to ensure that critical areas receive priority access.

Healthcare facilities across the country are implementing conservation plans and warning the public of potential disruptions in elective surgical procedures since Baxter International temporarily closed a large IV fluid manufacturing site in Marion, North Carolina as a result of hurricane Helene. The Marion factory supplied 60% of the nation's IV fluids to health facilities. As the nation braces for the full impact of this IV fluid shortage, Renown Health continues to prepare for our community.

Renown is actively implementing measures to conserve its supply of IV fluids, an essential component in patient care across multiple departments.

Renown continues to provide urgent, emergency and critical care as the region’s only Level 2 trauma center for adults and children across northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California, and continues to monitor the evolving situation while performing and successfully scheduling medically necessary procedures.

Renown serves one million residents across 100,000 rural square miles from Salt Lake City to Sacramento, providing 70% of inpatient care and 73% of Medicaid and uninsured care across the region, and serves as the safety net system for the northern Nevada community.

“Out of an abundance of caution, Renown has deployed the Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) to address the ongoing IV fluid shortage and to increase inventory tracking, optimize the distribution of available supplies across departments, and improve communication to ensure that critical areas receive priority access,” says Amy McCombs, MSN, RN, Chief Operations Officer for Renown Regional Medical Center and Incident Commander for the Hospital Incident Command System. “In addition, we are working closely with suppliers, state and national healthcare agencies to mitigate the impact of the IV fluid supply shortage on patient care.”

“At this time, based on the current IV fluid inventory, physicians and care teams at Renown Regional Medical Center and Renown South Meadows Medical Center are taking immediate action to ensure that we can continue to deliver safe and effective care to our patients,” says Ms. McCombs.

“Patient care remains our top priority, and we are committed to navigating this situation responsibly and transparently. We areworking with our partners to ensure consistent access to our vital services,” says Bill Plauth, MD, Chief Medical Officer for Renown Health. “We thank our surgeons and care teams for their exceptional care, having diligent oversight of the conservation of IV products and working collaboratively to ensure that access to high quality patient care is available for our community.”

For up-to-date information on Renown’s approach to keeping our community safe, visit our website at renown.org/IV-Fluid-Response.


About Renown Health

Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated health care network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,500 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination, and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. For more information, visit renown.org.

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Dr. Brian Erling, President and CEO of Renown Health, has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Governor’s Award in recognition of his visionary leadership and instrumental role in establishing the first kidney transplant program for northern Nevada. Presented at the annual Nevada Donor Network Gala by Governor Joe Lombardo at his residence in Carson City on May 8, the Governor’s Award honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to organ, eye, and tissue donation in the state. Dr. Erling’s efforts mark a historic first for healthcare in northern Nevada, giving residents access to lifesaving transplant care close to home for the first time. “I have the distinct pleasure on behalf of the Nevada Donor Network, the great state of Nevada and myself to award the 2025 Governor’s Award to Dr. Brian Erling of Renown Health,” said Governor Joe Lombardo. Joe Ferreira, president and CEO of the Nevada Donor Network, added his congratulations. “This is a momentous step forward for our state and provides hope and healing to those awaiting transplants and their families. The expansion of essential transplantation services across our state is made possible because of an extraordinary partnership. Thank you, Dr. Erling, for paving the way for better health outcomes and a brighter future for those in need.” Dr. Erling accepted the award, saying, “Many people in this room tonight worked long and hard to bring the Renown Transplant Institute® to our region, and are so deserving of this award. I am happy, on their behalf, to accept this award. I started my healthcare career as an emergency medicine physician and sometimes had to tell families about a loved one's death. 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