DCH Expands Access To Monoclonal Antibody Therapy In Northport

TUSCALOOSA, AL — DCH Health System on Friday announced a partnership with the Alabama Department of Public Health, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to expand access to monoclonal antibody therapy to COVID-19 patients in Tuscaloosa County.

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COVID-19 monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy is provided at Northport Medical Center in the Fitness One building, for patients who are at high risk for developing severe COVID-19 illness and have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus or are unvaccinated and have been exposed to someone who has tested positive. As part of the expansion, DCH Health System will be able to increase the number of patients treated with mAbs from 100 per week to 240.

DCH Health System is one of the first provider organizations in Alabama to join this national initiative, which is made possible by $150 million invested by HHS to increase access in underserved and disadvantaged communities across the country.

DCH says the treatment has been shown to help prevent progression of the disease that might otherwise require hospitalization and comes amid a sharp rise in deaths and young people being hospitalized. As Patch reported on Thursday, 669 inpatients have died at DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa after testing positive for the virus — 46 in the last two weeks, alone.

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"While we have used monoclonal antibody therapy since November for people at very high risk for serious illness, we are seeing unprecedented numbers of patients infected with COVID-19,” Alabama State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said. “We are very pleased that these additional resources will be available to ensure our residents receive the care they need to help prevent them from being hospitalized. At this crucial time, we fully support the efforts of DCH Health System and HHS to expand access to monoclonal antibody therapy to underserved patients in west Alabama.”

According to the agencies making the initiative possible, the mAb therapy is the first COVID-19 treatment granted emergency use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for outpatient use. What's more, a Phase 3 clinical trial showed that the antibody therapy reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by up to 70% in patients who received the drug intravenously compared to those who received a placebo.

The hospital system said patients can receive the mAb treatment Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

For more information on eligibility or to book an appointment, patients are asked to call (833) 873-2826.

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