LI's Catholic Health Services Researching Coronavirus Treatment

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY — Catholic Health Services — a regional network of six hospitals — has partnered with the Mayo Clinic to research a possible treatment for the new coronavirus using the blood of patients who have recovered.

According to Catholic Health Services (CHS), data has shown that treating coronavirus patients with an injection of plasma from people who have recovered from the virus has often led to improvement. The same method has been used in the past to treat people battling other viruses.

“Catholic Health Services is excited to work with the Mayo Clinic as part of the effort to develop
new treatments for COVID-19,” said CHS Senior Vice President and Chief Quality Officer Jason
Golbin. “We will be contacting patients treated by CHS for COVID-19 to request their participation in this study, but all who have recovered are welcome.”

CHS is seeking blood donors to help with the research. Donors must have had a verified coronavirus diagnosis, and are now fully recovered and symptom free. They must also be in good health, at least 18 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds.

The plasma that is collected from donors can only be given to consenting patients, or to those whose proxies offer consent. As the treatment is still experimental, it will only be given to patients who doctors believe is at high risk of dying from the virus.

Those who wish to donate plasma can get more information by calling 1 (855) CHS-4500.