Which hospital/ER for elderly covid patient?

[Anonymous]

Our elderly neighbor just tested positive; she has severely compromised lung function and no family nearby. If she deteriorates, which area hospital would be best/where is she most likely to receive monoclonal antibodies or other care that will make a difference for her? We are closest to GW and Georgetown but could drive anywhere within a few hours. She is vaccinated and boosted (but back in October). We think this is Omicron she got from a church group, but who knows, really.

[Anonymous]

Fairfax Inova! Im sorry OP.

[Anonymous]

Anywhere but GW. The emergency dept there is a zoo. If you can get your hands on a pulse oximeter you should check her blood oxygen level. My elderly grandmother appeared to be mostly asymptomatic but her pulse ox reading was in the 80s.

[Anonymous]

INOVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anywhere but GW. The emergency dept there is a zoo. If you can get your hands on a pulse oximeter you should check her blood oxygen level. My elderly grandmother appeared to be mostly asymptomatic but her pulse ox reading was in the 80s.

Agree with this. You can grab one at CVS/Target/Walmart. It should be in the mid 90s or higher. Low 90s, she should alert her MD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our elderly neighbor just tested positive; she has severely compromised lung function and no family nearby. If she deteriorates, which area hospital would be best/where is she most likely to receive monoclonal antibodies or other care that will make a difference for her? We are closest to GW and Georgetown but could drive anywhere within a few hours. She is vaccinated and boosted (but back in October). We think this is Omicron she got from a church group, but who knows, really.

If you want monoclonal antibodies for her, you need to get them before she is that sick. Once she deteriorates (and she might not, the vaccine works quite well), then they don't work.

I don't know where to go for them, maybe call her PCP?

[Anonymous]

If you call 911, they will take her to the nearest hospital with availability. They don't take requests.

If she needs an ER, then she can't "go a few hours away." Rethink what your plan as you stated above.

[Anonymous]

anywhere but Virginia hospital center. I had the worst ER hospital experience of my life there.

[Anonymous]

Fairfax inova. Georgetown if that’s too far. I’m so sorry. Can she call her doctor now and get them? I would try to be proactive with this. Thank you for looking after your neighbor you are very kind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anywhere but GW. The emergency dept there is a zoo. If you can get your hands on a pulse oximeter you should check her blood oxygen level. My elderly grandmother appeared to be mostly asymptomatic but her pulse ox reading was in the 80s.

Agree with this. You can grab one at CVS/Target/Walmart. It should be in the mid 90s or higher. Low 90s, she should alert her MD.

92 or below is when you go to the Er.

[Anonymous]

Yes if she has tested positive she should be getting proactive treatments. Call her doctor (or yours) and ask them to tell you where to go.

[Anonymous]

She should check with her doctor about getting the antiviral pill. They will also know about outpatient monoclonal treatment if appropriate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our elderly neighbor just tested positive; she has severely compromised lung function and no family nearby. If she deteriorates, which area hospital would be best/where is she most likely to receive monoclonal antibodies or other care that will make a difference for her? We are closest to GW and Georgetown but could drive anywhere within a few hours. She is vaccinated and boosted (but back in October). We think this is Omicron she got from a church group, but who knows, really.

If you want monoclonal antibodies for her, you need to get them before she is that sick. Once she deteriorates (and she might not, the vaccine works quite well), then they don't work.

I don't know where to go for them, maybe call her PCP?

+1

If you are assisting her, take her to the ER. INOVA is a good. Sometimes the Fair Oaks and Reston locations have short ER wait times.

[Anonymous]

Second INOVA, if Fairfax just don’t go on a Fri or Sat night that place is a zoo of drug seekers and young men with various bleeding body parts at those times.

I like FairOaks there is never a wait time in the ER and if your situation is serious they don’t hesitate to send you over to Fairfax via med transport. At that point you get to bypass the ER.

[Anonymous]

Thank you all, we will ask the PCP to prescribe the antiviral Paxlovid. She is hanging in there so far.

Does anyone know if Paxlovid is now easily obtained with a prescription?