Spectrum Health West Michigan will open an infusion clinic at Blodgett Hospital on Feb. 10 that uses monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of COVID-19 under a U.S. Food and Drug Administration Emergency Use Authorization.
The infusion clinic at Blodgett Hospital replaces a smaller clinic that has been operating since December at the Spectrum Health medical center in downtown Grand Rapids. Developed with expertise and input from the infectious disease team, the new clinic will provide more space and scheduling opportunities for treatment.
These treatments are designated for non-hospitalized patients in the early stage of COVID-19 with mild to moderate symptoms, and who are at risk for developing severe COVID-19 disease.
The infusion process in total is approximately three hours. Monoclonal antibody (MAB) treatment is given one time through a vein (intravenous or IV) for at least one hour.
Anyone who meets criteria can contact the COVID-19 Infusion Clinic for possible treatment at 616.391.0351 or covid19research@spectrumhealth.org
To be considered for this treatment option, patients must be 12 years of age or older and meet the following initial criteria:
-Positive COVID-19 test
AND
-COVID-19 related symptoms have been present for less than 10 days
AND
-Patient is not hospitalized
AND one or more of the following risk factors for disease progression:
-Significant immunosuppression
-Morbid obesity
-Uncontrolled diabetes
-Chronic kidney disease
-Heart disease
-Lung disease
-Age 65 and older