BRH COVID-19 Update: Therapeutics and Testing Transitions Underway

Bartlett Regional Hospital has released the following information about COVID-19 therapeutics and testing via their website:

Starting October 24, the hospital will be closing its monoclonal antibody therapy clinic due to a decrease in demand. Individuals seeking COVID-19 medication should contact their primary care provider to discuss options. The hospital will continue to offer EVUSHELD in Infusion Therapy to prevent infection for moderately to severely immunocompromised individuals who may not mount an adequate immune response to COVID-19 vaccination.

Starting November 15, given decreasing use the hospital will end its COVID-19 PCR drive-thru testing site and discontinue the testing hotline. COVID-19 testing will continue to be available to patients as a pre-procedure requirement. Laboratory testing continues to be available through SEARHC and Juneau Urgent Care. Antigen test kits are available at no cost at locations around Juneau as well as commercially.

“We feel comfortable taking these steps at this time given the decreasing numbers and need to reallocate resources,” said Kim McDowell, Chief Clinical Officer. “We are cautious about removing mitigation measures given our tight staffing and look forward to changing our testing and masking requirements as community transmission rates drop.”

The hospital is reviewing its COVID-19 policies and plans to make changes to mitigation measures such as required masking and pre-procedure testing as community transmission rates drop.