A North Texas provider of specialty pharmacy services has been chosen as the exclusive partner to one of Texas’ top hospitals for treating COVID-19 patients at home.
Frisco-headquartered Soleo Health, which administers care in the home or alternate sites of care, was selected by Houston Methodist for its monoclonal antibody therapy (mAb). According to the company, mAb is the most effective first-line therapy for COVID patients that would otherwise be hospital bound.
Monoclonal antibodies are proteins made in a laboratory that can mimic the immune system’s ability to fight off harmful pathogens. When administered within 10 days of the first signs of COVID-19, mAb can neutralize the virus and stop the symptoms from getting worse.
It’s a one-time therapy that is administered through intravenous infusion, which delivers the medication directly into the bloodstream. Soleo Health would be distributing the treatment to patients in their homes.
The Houston Methodist hospital system already has a partnership in place with the U.S. Department of Human Services to broaden mAb’s access to more underserved and disadvantaged COVID-19 patients in the Houston area. It’s supported by KPMG LLP.
That’s a main driver of the new program. The Soleo Health team sees the mAb therapy in-home treatment as “particularly important” for high-risk patients and in communities where access to care is limited. They think meeting patients at their residence could help to reduce hospital admissions in the state’s largest city.
To Soleo Health Regional Business Leader Shahram L. Badrei, teaming up with Houston Methodist will slow the chance of increased infection and the spread of COVID in a crowded hospital setting. He looks forward to “being part of the pandemic solution.”
Data sourced from the New York Times shows that Harris County, has recorded 542K COVID-19 cases and 7,935 deaths. Harris County, including the City of Houston, has been at a Level 1 threat level for COVID-19 for several weeks, even as vaccines continue to be administered throughout the country. The surge is fueled by the Delta variant and a stall in vaccinations throughout the city.
“Our relationship with Houston Methodist allows Soleo Health to service a vulnerable population and prevent the spread of the virus,” Badrei, Pharm.D, R.Ph, said in a news release. “Contributing to the public health and safety of the Houston community is truly important to our company, which is also a Texas-based entity.”
Soleo Health, which is accredited by URAC and The Joint Commission, operates 21 locations throughout the U.S. and has pharmacy licensure in 50 states. Its interdisciplinary team is made up of clinical pharmacists and registered nurses who work to improve the patient experience through its consistent management process.
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