Patient Perspectives on Anti-spike Monoclonal Antibody Therapy for Mild to Moderate Coronavirus Disease-2019.

Anti-spike monoclonal antibodies emerged as effective early treatment of high-risk individuals with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. Although their clinical and safety outcomes have been reported, patient perspectives of these experimental therapies have not been evaluated. In this survey participated by 644/2412 (26.7% response) individuals evaluated for anti-spike monoclonal antibody therapies, the majority of 523 patients who received the antibody infusion were very satisfied with their overall patient experience, the quality of care provided, and various aspects of medical care. They voiced satisfaction with the communication with providers before and during treatment, including education provided about monoclonal antibody treatment, the potential benefits and adverse effects, detailed instructions on the process of infusion, and safety protocols employed at the infusion facilities. Nearly a quarter (23.6%) of 121 patients who declined therapy indicated they would accept treatment should it be offered again. These patient perspectives may be used to guide healthcare facilities and providers in optimizing the care provided to high-risk outpatients with COVID-19.

A Framework for Outpatient Infusion of Antispike Monoclonal Antibodies to High-Risk Patients with Mild-to-Moderate Coronavirus Disease-19: The Mayo Clinic Model.

The administration of spike monoclonal antibody treatment to patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 is very challenging. This article summarizes essential components and processes in establishing an effective spike monoclonal antibody infusion program. Rapid identification of a dedicated physical infrastructure was essential to circumvent the logistical challenges of caring for infectious patients while maintaining compliance with regulations and ensuring the safety of our personnel and other patients. Our partnerships and collaborations among multiple different specialties and disciplines enabled contributions from personnel with specific expertise in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, infection prevention and control, electronic health record (EHR) informatics, compliance, legal, medical ethics, engineering, administration, and other critical areas. Clear communication and a culture in which all roles are welcomed at the planning and operational tables are critical to the rapid development and refinement needed to adapt and thrive in providing this time-sensitive beneficial therapy. Our partnerships with leaders and providers outside our institutions, including those who care for underserved populations, have promoted equity in the access of monoclonal antibodies in our regions. Strong support from institutional leadership facilitated expedited action when needed, from a physical, personnel, and system infrastructure standpoint. Our ongoing real-time assessment and monitoring of our clinical program allowed us to improve and optimize our processes to ensure that the needs of our patients with COVID-19 in the outpatient setting are met.

To the Point: advising students applying to Obstetrics and Gynecology residency in 2020 and beyond.

This article, from the "To the Point" series by the Undergraduate Medical Education Committee of the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics, is a guide for advising medical students applying to Obstetrics and Gynecology residency programs. The residency application process is changing rapidly in response to an increasingly complex and competitive atmosphere, with a wider recognition of the stress, expense, and difficulty of matching into graduate training programs. The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and societal upheaval make this application cycle more challenging than ever before. Medical students need reliable, accurate, and honest advising from the faculty in their field of choice to apply successfully to residency. The authors outline a model for faculty career advisors, distinct from mentors or general academic advisors. The faculty career advisor has detailed knowledge about the field, an in-depth understanding of the application process, and what constitutes a strong application. The faculty career advisor provides accurate information regarding residency programs within the specialty, helping students to strategically apply to programs where the student is likely to match, decreasing anxiety, expense, and overapplication. Faculty career advisor teams advise students throughout the application process with periodic review of student portfolios and are available for support and advice throughout the process. The authors provide a guide for the faculty career advisor in Obstetrics and Gynecology, including faculty development and quality improvement.