Hendrick Health relocates COVID infusion clinic to accommodate more patients
In an effort to help more individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 and to ease the overwhelming burden on the medical community, Hendrick Health has teamed up with several community partners to relocate its outpatient COVID infusion clinic to a larger facility at 1018 N. 13th Street. Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District, the City of Abilene and local university nursing students will work alongside Hendrick to administer the monoclonal antibody infusion for more patients across the region.
Hendrick has been offering COVID-19 infusions since January. However, the former clinic could not keep up with the rapidly increasing demand, only offering 8-10 infusions per day. On Thursday, Hendrick COVID Infusion Clinic was relocated to a more spacious facility and expanded its staff. Now, up to 32 infusions can be administered per day.
The direct infusion of antibodies into the body gives high-risk patients a chance to avoid hospitalization and severe illness. The treatment is administered on an outpatient basis as a one-time dose. Once the infusion has begun, patients can expect it to take approximately 30 minutes. After the infusion is completed, patients will be monitored for an additional hour.
This therapy has been approved for FDA emergency use authorization (EUA), and is currently only available for patients who are at high risk for developing severe symptoms or the need for hospitalization.
Criteria for monoclonal antibody infusion therapy includes:
- Any patient age 65 or greater who has had symptoms for less than 10 days and is COVID positive
- Any patient between the age of 12-64, who has had symptoms for less than 10 days, are COVID positive and meets one of the following comorbidities:
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
- Past medical history of any of the following: chronic kidney disease, Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, COPD, asthma, Cystic Fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, Sickle Cell Disease, Cerebral Palsy, interstitial lung disease, tracheostomy or gastrostomy, immunosuppressive disease or on an immunosuppressive treatment
This therapy is not approved for patients who require hospitalization or who require the use of oxygen at home because of COVID-19.
Individuals who have received a COVID-positive test result and are interested in receiving an antibody infusion can be referred by their physician/medical provider or submit a self-referral form. Referrals will be evaluated by infection prevention specialists who will determine eligibility. If eligibility is confirmed, the individual will be scheduled for an infusion.
The State is providing the antibody and is shipping doses to Abilene and Brownwood on a regular basis.
Individuals are asked to bring their insurance cards to the infusion. However, they do not need to bring any money. An administration fee will be billed to the insurance company. If insurance does not cover the administration fee, the patient will not be charged.
To learn more about the COVID infusion or to submit a self-referral form, visit https://hendrickhealth.org/covidtreatment.
Vaccines remain the best way to protect against the COVID-19 virus. To schedule an appointment for a curbside vaccine, text “covidhelp” to 325-216-4824.
