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Lakeland Regional Health begins administering COVID-19 therapy drug to decrease need for hospitalization

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Posted at 6:44 PM, Nov 20, 2020
and last updated 2020-11-20 23:25:47-05

LAKELAND, Fla. — Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center is now treating COVID-19 patients with a new therapy drug that decreases the need for hospitalization.

Hospital officials said bamlanivimab is an antibody treatment that is shown to reduce the severity of the virus and decrease the need for hospitalization by as much as 70 percent.

“This new COVID-19 drug therapy has great promise,” said Timothy J. Regan, MD, President, Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center/Chief Medical Officer, Lakeland Regional Health. “Particularly as we see a rise in COVID-19 cases around our state and country, Lakeland Regional Health is steadfast in its commitment to provide leading-edge, evidence-based treatments and processes to the patients and families we serve. We are pleased to be among the first health systems in the state to offer this drug treatment.”

Lakeland Regional Health currently has 58 COVID-19 patients in its care with a total of 769 patients in the hospital as of Friday, Nov. 20.

The drug is intended for COVID-19 patients ages 12 years and older with mild to moderate symptoms in an effort to prevent symptoms from worsening.

“Our exceptional physicians and nurses have been at the forefront of testing and treating COVID-19 patients throughout the pandemic, and they stand ready to care for you with this new treatment,” said Hal Escowitz, MD, Lakeland Regional Health Quality Officer and Chief Medical Informatics Officer.

Those who test positive for COVID-19 and meet the above criteria are encouraged to ask their Primary Care Provider about bamlanivimab.