By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County health care providers are using monoclonal antibodies to treat COVID-19 earlier in the disease process to prevent some hospitalizations.
"They are very aggressive, both the Hutchinson Clinic and Prairie Star about getting patients that are presenting, they're sick enough to present to the respiratory clinic but not sick enough to come in to the hospital, that's a perfect place for that monoclonal antibody treatment," said Chuck Welch with Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.
Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made proteins that mimic the immune system’s ability to fight off harmful pathogens such as viruses.
"They've been very aggressive to the point that the hospital and the effort in the community has gotten national attention, as you know, about the utilization of those MAbs," Welch said.
Welch tells Hutch Post that as of Tuesday, 353 doses of the monoclonal antibodies have been infused thus far at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, with 24 so far at the Hutchinson Clinic.