INDIANAPOLIS - A nationwide shortage of IV fluid is beginning to impact area hospitals. This comes after Hurricane Helene hit one of the main manufacturers in North Carolina. National shortage forcing Indiana hospitals to conserve IV fluids At the moment, the majority of Central Indiana hospitals are actively monitoring and conserving their IV fluids in case shortages worsen.According to the Indiana Hospital Association, Baxter International, which produces 60% of the IV fluid nationwide, had to close following storm damage. Now, the plant is operating at 60% of its original capacity and working to make up for the lost time. However, hospitals across the country, and here in the state are seeing the effects of a smaller supply.“We are hearing from some Indiana hospitals that they have postponed some non-emergency surgeries and procedures,” said Karin Kennedy, vice president of quality and patient safety for IHA.In Seymour, Schenk is one medical center that's rescheduling. Other medical groups such as Community Health and Ascension St. Vincent both said they have a stable supply and minimal impacts right now. Some are working to conserve what's on hand.“If someone has dehydration, perhaps they could be not receiving hydration through an IV. Maybe they could be receiving oral hydration, again if it’s safe,” said Kennedy.Hospitals that are working to preserve or use alternatives are Franciscan, Eskenazi and Riverview. Riverview Health said that within a day of the storm's landfall, the impacts were felt at the hospital, even though Baxter isn't their primary source.“What we're seeing is significant pressure on the IV fluid and irrigation fluids market,” said Brian Peters, associate vice president for pharmacy and supply chain at Riverview. "Pretty much every product across the board is on allocation."Peters said this is not the first time they've had an issue like this in healthcare, and with only a handful of key players in the market, a problem like this could likely happen again. ‘I’m the bad guy’: Greenwood man charged with shooting at stepfather, stepbrother while high on Xanax “From a US healthcare standpoint, to make sure we have robustness, redundancy and enough geographic diversity of where these products are being made so that we don't hopefully have as big of an issue like this going forward,” said Peters. According to the IHA,  Baxter is hoping that by the end of the year, things will be back to normal production at their facilities. IHA also asks patients to talk with their healthcare providers about their current situation.