LOGANSPORT — Logansport Memorial Hospital, in hard hit Cass County, has received a supply of Remdesivir, an experimental drug being used on a very limited basis in the treatment of COVID-19 patients.
Cass County, with a population of about 38,000, has reported 1,524 people testing positive for the virus. Most of the cases are among workers at the Tyson Meats plant, the county's largest employer. There have been three virus-related deaths.
On May 1, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved emergency use of Remdesivir, after early data from clinical trials showed promising results in helping severely ill patients recover from the virus.
A statement issued Monday by Logansport Memorial, said the hospital formed a team of doctors to determine who should get the drug and how it should be administered. The drug will also "follow" patients who are transferred from Logansport to a larger hospital. And patients who have already moved on to another hospital will receive the drug if they meet the criteria developed by doctors.
The initial findings from preliminary studies have shown that patients, who met similar criteria to what Logansport physicians developed, recovered more quickly from COVID-19 when given Remdesivir. If patients are able to recover and leave the hospital faster, it gives Logansport Memorial the opportunity to take care of more patients who need hospital care.
In its statement, the hospital said there is a tremendous responsibility to use the drug wisely so that it will have the greatest impact on the patients who receive it.
