Reaching the Most Vulnerable During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Fri, Jan 29, 2021
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Reaching the Most Vulnerable During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Home Health Nurses Bring COVID-19 Vaccine and Bamlanivimab Infusions to Home Bound Patients

COVID-19 has presented several challenges surrounding patient care, particularly for those who are at-risk and home bound. Holland Hospital’s Home Health Services team cares for nearly 300 patients with a wide range of health concerns from cardiac to wound care.

Holland Hospital was the third health care facility in the state to offer patients bamlanivimab (bam luh NI vi mab), a medicine used to treat COVID-19 patients with mild to moderate symptoms, and who are at high risk for developing severe symptoms or the need for hospitalization. Holland Hospital pharmacy, emergency department and home health staff quickly realized the benefits of providing bamlanivimab infusions to patients in their homes and out of the hospital.

“By developing a safe process to provide this intervention at home soon after a COVID-19 diagnosis, we have helped reduce the number of patients seen in the emergency room as well as reduce the number of hospital admissions,” said Carrie Van Oss, RN, clinical manager, Holland Hospital Home Health Services. “Our 20 community nurses learned in record time how to safely administer the infusion and have provided over 30 infusions since November 2020.”

In addition to administering bamlanivimab infusions in the home, the home health services team is now implementing a plan to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to all current patients and their spouses.

“Our ability to provide these valuable services helps our patients remain at home safely and avoid hospital and nursing home stays,” Van Oss said.