Hydroxychloroquine part of COVID treatment at TMH, not at CRMC

One of Tallahassee’s hospitals is including the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine in its treatment of COVID-19 patients. The other says it's following the guidance of the scientific community and does not.

The drug is among about a dozen possible treatments that is used at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, but officials there said treatment is based on what works for the individual.

“There is no perfect recipe or 'one size fits all' approach that works for every patient with COVID-19. Our medical team is closely evaluating each patient individually and developing custom treatment plans based on that patient’s unique circumstance,” said Dean Watson, MD and Chief Integration Officer at TMH.

Hydroxychloroquine has become controversial as President Donald Trump promotes its use while the Food and Drug Administration cautioned July 1 against its use because of potential complications with heart rhythm. That came after the FDA initially gave emergency use authorization to the drug in March based on little evidence.

In the months that followed, the federal agency’s random clinical trials in hospitalized patients found it offered no benefit for decreasing the likelihood of death or speeding recovery, and the emergency authorization was revoked.

Research on the coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, is coming in spurts because it was first identified late last year. It has led health officials to radically shift positions on treatment and prevention based on the best available data.

Watson noted the shifting medical landscape and the myriad treatments being explored for positive outcomes. Since March, 327 people have been hospitalized at TMH from complications with COVID-19. Currently, 40 beds are occupied.

“New details and research around this coronavirus are released every day. We remain focused on using the latest research and treatments to help our patients achieve the best outcomes,” he said. “Individual treatment options can include Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Zinc, statins, anticoagulants, hydroxychloroquine, Remdesivir, Decadron, COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma (CCP) and Actemra as well as placing patients in the prone position (on their abdomen/stomach) when indicated.”

Capital Regional Medical Center reported Thursday it was treating 40 people in the hospital for COVID-19.

Initially, the hospital used the drug in the early weeks of the pandemic. However, that's no longer the case.

“Capital Regional Medical Center is not using hydroxychloroquine at this time,” Chief Medical Officer Dr. Trey Blake said in a statement. “The scientific community has concluded that hydroxychloroquine is unlikely to be effective in treating COVID-19 and that the benefits do not outweigh the risks.”

Contact Karl Etters at ketters@tallahassee.com or @KarlEtters on Twitter.

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