24 Jan 2021 Unity Health using antibody therapy as COVID-19 treatment

Unity Health – White County Medical Center at Searcy is administering Bamlanivimab, a monoclonal antibody therapy for outpatient treatment of COVID-19. Unity Health currently has treatment dosages available at White County Medical Center Searcy and Harris Medical Center Newport locations, and are ordering additional treatments. 

Bamlanivimab may be used to treat lab-confirmed symptomatic patients at high risk of progression to severe disease or hospitalization. The treatment was made available under FDA issued emergency use authorization as an investigational monoclonal antibody therapeutic.

Unity Heath Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Roddy Lochala explains, “This is the first time in the pandemic that we can treat someone as an outpatient to lower their risk of a severe outcome substantially.”

Patients who have tested positive for COVID-19, and who are at high-risk, should set a telemedicine visit with their Unity Health physician to discuss the risks and benefits of this treatment.