Officials from Baxter Regional Medical Center provided their weekly COVID-19 update during the 7 news Wednesday morning. President/CEO Ron Peterson, Director of Pharmacy Ryan Killian and Director of Marketing Tobias Pugsley discussed several topics including help from the Arkansas National Guard and availability of the monoclonal antibody infusion for the Omicron variant.
Listen:
Baxter Regional COVID-19 update: Wednesday
Since Baxter Regional Medical Center’s (BRMC) last update on Jan. 5, active COVID-19 cases in Baxter County have nearly doubled to 357. As of Wednesday, there are 20 COVID-19 patients admitted at Baxter Regional, with six in ICU and three on ventilators. A record high of 80 Baxter Regional employees have active COVID-19, and all of them are at home and in isolation, per BRMC’s COVID-19 policy.
Additional statistics from Baxter Regional:
• 70% of 20 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized are not fully vaccinated;
• 86.4% of 634 COVID-19 patients hospitalized since March 1, 2021, were not fully vaccinated; and
• 81.9% of 149 COVID-19 deaths since March 1, 2021, were not fully vaccinated.
Two members of the Arkansas Army National Guard have been dispatched to help with the Baxter Regional COVID-19 testing offered by appointment. Hospital officials express their appreciation for the support of the Arkansas Army National Guard and encourage anyone needing a COVID-19 test to call the hospital’s COVID-19 Resource Line at (870) 508-7001.
There is a nationwide shortage of monoclonal antibodies used in the treatment of COVID-19. These monoclonal antibodies are now on a state-coordinated distribution system through the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH). The federal government determines total allocation amounts to each state based upon cases and hospitalizations. This has caused a statewide shortage in Arkansas, and BRMC is not offering monoclonal antibody infusion therapy at this time. Currently, there is no information available regarding when or if the local medical center will be able to continue to offer the treatment.
While BRMC has requested Sotrovimab, the monoclonal antibody currently approved to help treat symptoms of the Omnicron variant, it is not guaranteed the hospital will be allocated any by ADH. If and when that supply is received, BRMC will immediately communicate to all area providers. It will be administered to patients using the allocation criteria approved by the Baxter Regional Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Ethics Committee. That criteria includes priority to patients who are aged 65 or older, not fully vaccinated and immunocompromised.
The Baxter Regional COVID-19 Resource Line continues to be available at (870) 508-7001 as an easy way to access all COVID-19 services using just one phone number. Anyone in the community may call to schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 test, vaccine, booster, or reach the COVID-19 Hotline.
During what seems to be the third surge of COVID-19 locally, BRMC reminds everyone the very best way to reduce the spread is to get a COVID-19 vaccine, if you are eligible, and continue using precautions, remembering the basic 3 Ws: wash your hands, watch your distance and wear your mask.
For more information and regular local updates on COVID-19, visit www.baxterregional.org/coronavirus.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI