Bartlett Regional | House Calls | Spring 2021

Special care for chemotherapy and infusion drugs While there’s never a good time to be diagnosed with cancer, having it during a global pandemic can be difficult and stressful. Gina Heffern and Misty Wylie make chemotherapy and other infusion drugs on-site in the newly built clean room next door to Infusion Chemotherapy. “Because these chemotherapy agents are really hazardous, they have to be handled in a really particular way,” says Misty. “We mix them specifically for each patient. It requires a lot of special handling to keep the patient safe, to keep the product sterile and to keep the pharmacist safe while they’re handling hazardous drugs.” “We have to be careful that we’re taking all the precautions, because cancer patients are at a higher risk of any infection anytime,” notes Gina. “So at this heightened environment with COVID-19, you have to be extra cautious.” Misty Wylie is the pharmacy purchasing technician at Bartlett Regional Hospital. She’s been at Bartlett for six years. In addition to purchasing drugs and keeping track of inventory, she’s been compounding the chemotherapy drugs for patients. Gina Heffern has been the infusion pharmacist at Bartlett for a little over two years. “I grew up here. I was born in this hospital, so this has literally been a part of my life since I came to be,” she says. “It’s really special for me to feel like I’m serving and providing care to my community.” Is antibody infusion right for you? If you have recently tested positive for COVID-19 and are at risk for severe illness or hospitalization due to your age or underlying health conditions, monoclonal antibody infusion therapy could help prevent serious illness and hospitalization. What are monoclonal antibodies? Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made proteins that mimic the immune system’s ability to fight off harmful viruses and bacteria that can cause disease. Bamlanivimab (Lilly) and casirivimab/imdevimab (Regeneron) are two monoclonal antibodies authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat mild-to-moderate COVID-19 within 10 days of the onset of symptoms. Who can receive the treatment? If you test positive for COVID-19 and have any medical issue that puts you at risk for serious disease, such as the following, you may be eligible for monoclonal antibody infusion: X You are not hospitalized. X You have had symptoms for fewer than 10 days. X You are 65 years of age or older. X You have a body mass index greater than 35 (adults). X You have diabetes. X You have chronic kidney disease. X You have an immunosuppressive disease or are on immunosuppressive therapy. X You are 55 years of age or older and have high-risk factors such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension or a chronic respiratory disease. Now available at Bartlett! Juneau residents who test positive for COVID-19 may be eligible for monoclonal antibody treatment at Bartlett Regional Hospital. If you or someone you know receives a positive COVID-19 test and has any medical issues that may put them or you at increased risk for complications related to COVID-19, contact your provider immediately to ask about monoclonal antibody infusion therapy. If you are eligible, your primary care provider can coordinate treatment with Bartlett. If you do not have a provider, please call 907-764-3142 to discuss the option and availability of the monoclonal antibody treatment. Language interpretation is available. www.bartletthospital.org 7