Acute COVID Treatment- Not what it was
We no longer have monoclonal antibody treatments available
It doesn't mean we aren't still curbstomping this virus. Check out my blog post about the updated COVID situation. Contact us the same as it has always been for setting up treatment appointments. 775-230-2263.
It's not simply "an infusion"
Currently, I offer full service for the treatment of COVID in the office. We used to treat patients in their homes. This is no longer feasible as it means I am only treating that one person and not 5-10 at the same time in the office. It is available on a very limited case by case option and would not happen during the work day. That does not mean it is readily available outside business hours.
Treatment options and choice of drugs is not available upon request. Patients do not have the privilege of requesting particular drug choices. Nationally, the supply is in a state of disarray and we no longer know which drugs we have from one day to the next. We do not reserve doses for anyone. We treat patients who are in front of us, with the drugs I have available, with consideration of the clinical status of each patient individually. I am under no obligation whatsoever to honor a prescription from another physician sent to this office.
The primary form of that treatment is neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. This can be BamEte (Bamlanivimab and Etesevimab), REGEN-Cov (casirivimab and Imdevimab), sotrovimab, and Evushield. All carry efficacy against the various strains. None are ineffective. Some are better than others. Experience in managing this disease matters. It's not a simple case of yes or no. I believe we are all carrying around various percentages of each strain. Evaluating this is nothing like a straight forward question. I believe omicron has a tendency to make it so other variants can be the one causing patients to be symptomatic in differing ways. All are equally miraculous drugs, but they behave quite differently. After >2300 infusions of these medications, and watched every single infusion, the things I have seen these drugs do are absolutely mind blowing. COVID is an insanely aggressive virus that will destroy a human body in a matter of 7-10 days, or leave it in shredded ruin. Failure to neutralize this virus as soon as possible is a failure to recognize the house is on fire. Every moment where one sits and doesn't act with a fire extinguisher, the fire spreads and grows. This is not the time for any form of alternative treatments with IV Vitamin C or Glutathione. This is not the time to try Ivermectin (this drug can be extremely poisonous). These treatments do nothing for COVID. I've read plenty, seen plenty, and say this on good authority.
Monoclonal antibodies require an IV to administer and can take anywhere from 20-45 minutes after the IV is inserted. Typical timeline for the office visit is about 75-90 minutes from arrival at the office to departure from the office.
Other forms of treatment depend on each patient's clinical situation. Some require anticoagulation. Some require steroids. Some require oxygen. Some require an ambulance to the hospital after giving the monoclonal antibody treatment, because the COVID has made them extremely sick. Some will require further management the following days.
As the physician managing your COVID-19 illness, I provide medical care that is required based on each individual person and their clinical situation. I have deliberately decided to employ ICU and ER trained nurses to help keep you out of the ICU. COVID is a deadly disease. People finally decide to seek care when their lives are on the line. There is no protocol that will cover each person individually. I am personally available 24/7 while you are being treated for COVID. This is not a one-time event. This is a when and what is required for each patient individually service.
When you seek treatment from us, you're being treated by one of the most experienced and successful treatment teams in the country.
There is no treatment protocol
We have completed >2300 monoclonal antibody infusions in 2021. That number continues to grow as we move into 2022. We have treated nearly 800 patients in the hospital. Our nursing staff has treated patients in ICUs since this pandemic began. In all of the time I have been treating COVID, I have never had the time to sit down and make a protocol. Every patient requires individual consideration. This doesn't mean the treatment plans are complex, but protocols are dangerous and lazy medicine. There is no preventive treatment protocol. I've seen plenty of people who thought they had one and who believed it worked. Then they got COVID. Then they got a monoclonal antibody infusion. We can sincerely say, the people who come to us later and sicker have been placed on protocols by their neighbors or various physician organizations or local physicians. The results of those protocols have been catastrophic for many, and nearly catastrophic if they found our clinic. We have saved numerous lives from the cliff of a failed protocol.
NO! It's not ivermectin! This medication can be exceedingly dangerous in up to 1 in 6 people. We have seen plenty of Ivermectin overdoses in our patients who have been prescribed doses that are not defensible in a court of law.
NO! It's not hydroxychloroquine. Despite all the theory of why this medication may have or should work, it really isn't working. The plethora of evidence shows it to be trending toward harm when used. There's no point.
No, we will not provide any form of protocol or prescriptions to have in case. I cannot express how much of a bad idea this is.
The Consequence of Delay
Delaying in starting treatment can result in worsening of a disease that has 2%-3% chance to kill you. Delaying treatment and monitoring can make the task of seeing you through this more difficult. The price is the same today as it is in 3 days. There's not difference in a flat rate for a month. There is a profound difference in the damage this disease can do in a body over 1-3 days. Is it worth it?
Don't waste your time with some IV infusion of vitamins. They don't neutralize COVID and they are directly responsible for increasing viral load by not getting treated. Don't waste your time with the deworming toothpaste Ivermectin. It too is directly responsible for increasing viral load by not getting treated. Keeping you alive is much easier when you ask for help earlier.