Reid Health makes monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19 available to long-term care facilities

Shelli Ross was on a conference call with other leaders of local long-term care facilities when Thomas Huth, M.D., Vice President of Medical Affairs for Reid Health, made an offer she couldn't pass up.

"He had reached out a few weeks before about Reid's monoclonal antibody infusion treatment for some of those people who have COVID-19," the executive director of Arbor Trace in Richmond said. "He asked on the call if anyone was interested in having a Reid team come to their facility to administer the infusion, and I said yes.

"I sent him a text, and they were here within an hour and a half. It was a super quick turnaround."

Reid Health created two monoclonal antibody infusion clinics in early November, one in Richmond on the main campus and the other at Reid Health -- Connersville.

The drug used in the treatment, bamlanivimab, had received Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to help treat COVID-19 patients who are considered high risk for developing severe illness from the virus.

Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-produced molecules that can restore, enhance, or mimic the immune system's attack on cells. Bamlanivimab is designed to block viral attachment and entry into human cells, neutralizing the virus.

"The goal is to treat these patients as soon as symptoms arise to keep them from progressing from mild illness to needing hospitalization," said Amy Slonaker, RN, MSN, Director of Oncology/Infusion Therapy. "The aim is to administer the medication within one to 10 days after symptoms develop. The earlier the better."

Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-produced molecules that can restore, enhance, or mimic the immune system's attack on cells. Bamlanivimab is designed to block viral attachment and entry into human cells, neutralizing the virus.

When given to non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients, bamlanivimab may reduce the amount of virus in the body, symptoms and the risk of hospitalizations and emergency room visits.

Residents of long-term care facilities fall within the high-risk category that make them perfect candidates for the treatment but getting them to one of Reid's two clinics proved to be a challenge.

"Transportation is the biggest barrier," Ross said. "Secondly, they don't feel well and they're elderly, so if they stay in house, it's just a much better situation for them."

To that end, Reid began offering to bring the monoclonal antibody infusion program to residents.

"Scheduled infusions at our Richmond and Connersville hospital locations present access issues for those in residential facilities," Huth said. "To make this treatment more readily available, we're taking the show on the road."

"The goal is to treat these patients as soon as symptoms arise to keep them from progressing from mild illness to needing hospitalization." -- Amy Slonaker, RN, MSN, Director of Oncology/Infusion Therapy

Reid Health has been reaching out to long-term care facilities to set up relationships before they have COVID-19 cases, making it easier to respond when needed. The health system also has developed a tool kit for facilities to make the process smoother, including information for staff, residents and families; flow sheets for infusion nurses to follow; an order form that helps to establish a resident qualifies for treatment and starts the process to provide treatment to that person; and a services agreement between Reid and the facility.

The process to receive treatment is simple. If a patient has tested positive for COVID-19, their physician or provider can send a referral with an order to Reid Central Scheduling to be set up for treatment at their long-term care facility or one of Reid's two clinics.

Those with questions about monoclonal antibody infusions can call Reid's COVID-19 hotline at 765-965-4200 Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. They also can go to Reid's website at reidhealth.org/monoclonal-antibody-treatment.