Montefiore and Albert Einstein College of Medicine Partner with NYU Langone Health to Determine if Blood from COVID-19 Survivors Can Aid Current COVID-19 Patients

BRONX, N.Y., April 29, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Montefiore Health System, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and NYU Langone have launched a new clinical trial to study if convalescent plasma—taken from people who have recovered from COVID-19—is effective in treating the disease.

The body’s immune response to viral infections includes making molecules called antibodies. Antibodies can combat the infection and possibly prevent reinfection in people—and may be successful for helping people who are sick with COVID-19 fight the virus. This therapy, known as convalescent plasma therapy, has been deployed in viral outbreaks over the past century, and has shown promise in reducing the severity of illness and improving survival rates.

The randomized controlled trial will enroll 300 people with COVID-19 respiratory symptoms. Half of these individuals will receive plasma that contains antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, while the remaining half will receive a placebo. Candidates for the clinical trial have had respiratory symptoms for less than a week, require some supplemental oxygen or have been in the hospital for less than four days.

“We created this study based on evidence from the pre-antibiotic era, but there has been no scientific proof it is really effective,” said study co-leader Liise-anne Pirofski, M.D., chief of infectious diseases at Montefiore and Einstein and a leader of the national COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Project.

Previous studies suggest that convalescent plasma may be helpful treatment for other coronaviruses, including SARS, but this trial aims to provide proof that it is effective for COVID-19 patients. Last month, Dr. Pirofski co-authored a widely cited viewpoint in the Journal of Clinical Investigation that championed the use of convalescent serum as a treatment for COVID-19.

Since the start of the pandemic, Montefiore has successfully treated and discharged approximately 4,000 severely ill COVID-19 patients from its hospitals. This presents an opportunity to get plasma from former patients and use these antibodies to treat a community disproportionally affected by COVID-19.

“Vaccines may not be available for more than a year. In the meantime, and given the lack of natural immunity and available vaccines, plasma therapy may help to provide the body what it needs to fight the infection,” said co-lead study investigator, Mila Ortigoza, MD, PHD, an instructor in the departments of Medicine and Microbiology at NYU Langone Health. “Infections like the new coronavirus that jump into humans from animals are dangerous because we have no antibodies against them, so we hope to learn if supplying them can save lives.”

The first Montefiore plasma donors came from Young Israel synagogue in New Rochelle. The community, which was home to one of the largest clusters of COVID-19 cases in the country, now represents a beacon of hope.

“To have so many people who have recovered from COVID-19 donate their plasma and make this research possible and potentially help people they have never met is an incredible celebration of the human spirit,” said Dr. Pirofski. “We are overwhelmed by the generosity of recovered patients and are confident this trial will help us learn if convalescent plasma is effective against COVID-19.”

About Montefiore Health System

Montefiore Health System is one of New York’s premier academic health systems and is a recognized leader in providing exceptional quality and personalized, accountable care to approximately three million people in communities across the Bronx, Westchester and the Hudson Valley. It is comprised of 11 hospitals, including the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital and more than 200 outpatient ambulatory care sites. The advanced clinical and translational research at its medical school, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, directly informs patient care and improves outcomes. From the Montefiore-Einstein Centers of Excellence in cancer, cardiology and vascular care, pediatrics, and transplantation, to its preeminent school-based health program, Montefiore is a fully integrated healthcare delivery system providing coordinated, comprehensive care to patients and their families. For more information please visit www.montefiore.org. Follow us on Twitter and view us on Facebook and YouTube.

About Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Albert Einstein College of Medicine is one of the nation’s premier centers for research, medical education and clinical investigation. During the 2019-20 academic year, Einstein is home to 724 M.D. students, 158 Ph.D. students, 106 students in the combined M.D./Ph.D. program, and 265 postdoctoral research fellows. The College of Medicine has more than 1,800 full-time faculty members located on the main campus and at its clinical affiliates. In 2019, Einstein received more than $178 million in awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This includes the funding of major research centers at Einstein in aging, intellectual development disorders, diabetes, cancer, clinical and translational research, liver disease, and AIDS. Other areas where the College of Medicine is concentrating its efforts include developmental brain research, neuroscience, cardiac disease, and initiatives to reduce and eliminate ethnic and racial health disparities. Its partnership with Montefiore, the University Hospital and academic medical center for Einstein, advances clinical and translational research to accelerate the pace at which new discoveries become the treatments and therapies that benefit patients. Einstein runs one of the largest residency and fellowship training programs in the medical and dental professions in the United States through Montefiore and an affiliation network involving hospitals and medical centers in the Bronx, Brooklyn and on Long Island. For more information, please visit www.einstein.yu.edu, read our blog, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and view us on YouTube.

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SOURCE Montefiore Health System; Albert Einstein College of Medicine

TAMPA, Florida, April 28, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Solis Health Plans, a Medicare Advantage Plan, is joining with Florida Family Primary Care Centers to bring COVID-19 testing to senior citizens in Tampa beginning Monday, May 4, 2020. The testing will focus on residents aged 65 or older who are experiencing symptoms of the coronavirus. Test kits will be provided by CBS Labs. Testing will only be offered for those who have scheduled an appointment in advance by calling 813-461-7084. The call center opens at 9:00 a.m. daily and will remain open until the appointment slots for the following day are filled. The drive-thru testing will be available by appointment Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 am and 3:00 pm.

“We are pleased to be working with Florida Family Primary Care Centers to bring additional testing options to Tampa,” said Solis Health Plans CEO Daniel Hernandez. “This community is important to us, and we are proud to be a part of keeping Tampa safe.”

“Our partnership with Solis is essential for ensuring that Tampa seniors have access to coronavirus testing,” said Florida Family Primary Care Centers CEO Octavio “Butch” Bravo. “We invite those who are experiencing symptoms to schedule a test. The staff at our centers are prepared to take all necessary precautions to ensure your health and safety.”

Testing will take place at the following Florida Family Primary Care Centers locations:

• Pinellas – Pinellas Park (6245 66th Street, Pinellas Park, FL 33781)
• Hillsborough – Town & Country (6726 Hanley Road, Tampa, FL 33634)
• Hillsborough – Temple Terrace (11531 N 56th Street #103, Temple Terrace, FL 33617)
• Hillsborough – Palm River (7444 E. Palm River Rd, Tampa, FL 33619)
• Hillsborough – Plant City (1608 W. Oak Avenue, Plant City, FL  33563)
• Pasco – Hudson (7463 State Road 52, Hudson, FL  34667)

Individuals with an appointment should go to the confirmed center location at their scheduled time. An attendant will be outside to provide additional direction. ID is required for testing. Test results will be provided within 48 hours.

About Solis Health Plans 
Solis Health Plans is a community-focused Florida Medicare Advantage health plan that delivers outstanding member experience and exceptional service to its members, providers, and brokers and offers competitive plans with expanded benefits in multiple counties. The company is locally based and self-identifies as the Un-Corporate Plan: personal as opposed to bureaucratic, innovative instead of risk-averse, and accountable rather than ambiguous. Solis Health Plans is committed to exceeding expectations and to being the plan of choice for the communities served, with the goal of achieving better healthcare outcomes.

For more information on Solis Health Plans, please visit www.solishealthplans.com.

Solis Health Plans is an HMO with a Medicare contract and a contract with the Florida Medicaid Program. Enrollment in Solis Health Plans depends on contract renewal.

About Florida Family Primary Care Centers 
Florida Family Primary Care Centers (FFPCC) is a network of full-service family practice medical centers of dedicated, experienced healthcare professionals who believe in working with patients to prevent illness and injury and improve their overall health. Each medical professional comes to the practice with years of experience in their area of specialty. FFPCC works together to serve patients’ entire families for all medical needs in all stages of life. The centers’ healthcare professionals believe in providing comprehensive healthcare services to patients in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

For more information on Florida Family Primary Care Center, please visit www.floridafamilyprimarycarecenters.com.

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SOURCE Solis Health Plans, Inc.

ARLINGTON, Virginia, April 27, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — This Spring, in honor of Mother’s Day, March of Dimes and supporting partners —  Clearblue, Enfa, The Honest Company, Macy’s, Inc., Ovia Health, and PARENTS and PARENTS LATINA — are raising awareness among moms, moms-to-be and the more than 6 million women who will become pregnant this year on how best to stay healthy and strong as they navigate their motherhood journey. In response to a growing maternal health crisis, and in the midst of a global pandemic impacting women who want to become pregnant or already are, It Starts With Mom is an online resource center to educate and inform moms and moms-to-be on health and wellness issues, and empower them to plan for the best possible start for their families.

According to the latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in the United States approximately two babies die every hour and every 12 hours, a woman dies of pregnancy-related complications – making America among the most dangerous places to give birth in the developed world. Despite these staggering statistics, a recent Harris poll funded by the March of Dimes found that American women are lacking the resources they need in order to understand the depth and complexities of pregnancy. Only 50% of women age 19 to 44 believe there is a health crisis in the United States around women trying to get pregnant and having healthy pregnancies.

“The gap between the complicated realities of pregnancy in the U.S. and women who are largely unaware of them is wide and that is unacceptable,” said Stacey D. Stewart, President and CEO of March of Dimes. “It is our core belief that every mom and baby deserves the best possible start. Through It Starts With Mom, we are filling the void by providing women with easily accessible resources that educate and empower them as they begin to navigate their pregnancy journey.”                                             

Launched today, ItStartsWithMom.org will serve as a central hub and provide easy-to-access health and wellness information and resources, covering an array of topics related to maternal health categorized into three areas – pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and post-partum stages of the motherhood journey. According to the Harris poll, women are increasingly going online to learn about and find answers to their pregnancy-related questions. Sixty-eight percent of those surveyed report a need for a new online resource for moms, moms-to-be and their families on how to stay healthy before, during and after birth.

March of Dimes and supporting partners – Clearblue, Enfa, The Honest Company, Macy’s, Inc., Ovia Health, and PARENTS and PARENTS LATINA  – are committed to the health of moms and babies. Throughout the month of May and beyond, corporate partners will engage customers and mobilize their employees in the campaign to raise awareness of the resources made available through ItStartsWithMom.org.

“We face a very serious maternal health crisis in the United States. It is not acceptable that our country is one of the most dangerous developed nations to give birth in with this trend continuing to worsen over the last 25 years,” said The Honest Company Founder, Jessica Alba. “Now more than ever, in the wake of COVID-19, we’re faced with even more challenges as we prepare to welcome new children into this world and take care of our little ones at home. As a company dedicated to the health and well-being of all moms and children, we’re committed to helping moms everywhere who are in need of comprehensive healthcare.”

On May 7^th, The Honest Company and the March of Dimes will co-host an inaugural virtual thought leadership conference, It Starts With Mom Live, to shed light on topics that moms and moms-to-be find the most pressing today. Led by actress and The Honest Company founder, Jessica Alba, the conference will be live streamed on the March of Dimes YouTube and Facebook Channels.

“As we approach Mother’s Day, we believe the time is now to make a difference and elevate this moment for moms everywhere,” said Alba. “So we’ve partnered with March of Dimes, committing time and financial support for the ‘It Starts With Mom’ Campaign. In honor of this partnership, we will be hosting a FREE virtual summit, with healthcare, nutrition and fitness experts as well as special guests and real moms sharing their stories. By working together, we can bring awareness to this health crisis and ensure moms have access to the care and resources they need. As a mom of three, advocate for social injustices that affect women and children and founder of The Honest Company, I join my company in devoting the Month of May to Mamas everywhere. Because… real talk, every day is Mother’s Day!” 

March of Dimes is committed to leveling the playing field for all moms and babies, no matter their age, socio-economic background, demographics or situation. We must do more to support moms and encourage all women to discuss concerns or issues they have about their health before, during and after pregnancy directly with their doctor. For more information, please visit: ItStartsWithMom.org.

About March of Dimes

March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. We support research, lead programs and provide education and advocacy so that every baby can have the best possible start. Building on a successful legacy of more than 80 years of impact and innovation, we empower every mom and every family. Visit marchofdimes.org or nacersano.org for more information. Visit shareyourstory.org for comfort and support. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

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SOURCE March of Dimes