Maryland’s first at-home monoclonal antibody treatment completed by Wicomico Co.’s SWIFT Team
MARDELA SPRINGS, Md. – Wicomico County’s SWIFT Team recently hit a major milestone in providing care for COVID-19 patients. For the first time ever in the state of Maryland, a patient was able to receive an at-home monoclonal antibody treatment.
TidalHealth’s Director of Community Health Initiatives Katherine Rodgers says being able to bring this treatment right to patients’ doorsteps could make a huge impact in the fight against the coronavirus. “Because of mobility challenges or other barriers, some patients who are eligible for the treatment, and would benefit from it, can’t get to the clinic,” she said. “So, recognizing this problem in November, the state EMS board approved the treatment to be administered in a home setting.”
Rodgers adds that being able to administer monoclonal antibody treatments at patients’ homes could relieve some of the stress on local emergency departments. “The emergency department, the hospital, the EMS system are all very strained in response to COVID-19. Anything we can do to prevent hospitalizations and treat people in the right place at the right time and setting in their home, that’s going to help the entire health system,” she said.
Although this new option for at-home treatment is promising, monoclonal antibody treatments are not a cure for COVID-19. “It can help lessen your symptoms and keep you out of the hospital. It’s available for eligible COVID-19 patients. There’s a set of criteria that’s reviewed by physicians to determine if a patient is eligible,” said Rodgers.
Rodgers says that patient criteria includes mild to moderate symptoms, those not requiring hospitalization or supplemental oxygen, and those at risk for progression to severe disease or hospitalization. “If a patient meets that criteria, then they would be referred from their own health care provider, and then scheduled for treatment. This normally occurs at a clinic, like the one TidalHealth has been operating,” she said.
