National Guard Assisting at Bucktail Medical Center; Vaccine due this Week
SOUTH RENOVO, PA – The Bucktail Medical Center is dealing with a recent upsurge in COVID-19 cases among residents and staff members and outside help has been brought in.
BMC administrator Tim Reeves, in a Tuesday update said Bucktail Medical Center now has 22 COVID-19 positive residents and a cumulative total of 14 staff; all but three were infected during a recent outbreak, which, Reeves said, moved through the facility in a matter of hours. All infected residents are currently receiving care in the “red” zone in the facility. The “red”, “yellow”, and “green” zones are in separate hallways.
The BMC administrator said additional staffing help has been provided: “Many employees from every department in the hospital are working with residents in all zones to help clinical staff provide care. With several staff ill and unable to work, BMC is using agency staff we have contracted with and agency staff that the Department of Health has secured. We are also receiving staffing assistance from the US Army National Guard. They are supporting us with one licensed nurse, several medics, and several “general purpose” workers to assist with housekeeping, maintenance, and other duties. They will be in place for five days while our own staff recover and are able to return to work.”
As for treatment, Reeves said BMC was able to secure a supply of bamlanivimab, a monoclonal antibody for COVID-19 developed by Eli Lilly, sufficient to treat each positive resident who wanted the treatment. He said monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-produced molecules that act as substitute antibodies that can restore, enhance, or mimic the immune system’s attack on cells. Monoclonal antibodies are produced from antibodies the human body produces. The cloned antibodies are administered to the patient through an IV. One particular advantage of monoclonal antibodies is that they do not carry donor specific material like blood type or DNA, minimizing the risk of a negative reaction that can occur with natural antibodies.
Reeves said, “We have had one COVID-19 related death. All other residents are stable at this time and range from asymptomatic to requiring oxygen and IV fluids. After 14 days in the “red” zone, patients who remain asymptomatic or who have recovered will be moved to the “green” zone; these transfers could begin as early as Tuesday Jan. 12. He said Tuesday was the third consecutive day with no new positive residents.
Staff and residents who are negative will be able to receive the vaccine on Wednesday of this week. A second vaccination date is scheduled for Jan. 27, for both the second dose and for additional first doses.
And Reeves offered kind words to those involved in dealing with the pandemic at the medical center: “It is important to understand that many medical center employees have gone well above and far beyond their routine duties. Many are working 16 or more hours per day. Some are on their ninth consecutive day. Non-clinical staff are helping where they can both to provide care or to support the clinical staff. In spite of the fatigue, and in the face of their own potential exposure, they come to work when ever and where ever they are needed. They are all tired and deserving of our sincere thanks and appreciation.”
