The network is introducing a new policy to help conserve hydroxychloroquine for treatment of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Limited potential treatment options are available for COVID-19. Preliminary data is promising for chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine. Hydroxychloroquine is available at network facilities, but supply is finite with future availability unknown nationwide. Hydroxychloroquine is used for chronic indications such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Holding inpatient hydroxychloroquine for chronic indications will result in minimal to no patient harm.
Actions
Restriction of inpatient hydroxychloroquine:
- Hydroxychloroquine ordering will be restricted to Infectious Disease, Critical Care, or Pulmonology practitioners for patients who are in isolation precautions for COVID-19.
- Patients taking hydroxychloroquine for chronic conditions will be asked to bring in their own supply.
- An Epic alert will fire on hydroxychloroquine stating the following: “Kettering Health Network is restricting hydroxychloroquine for patients who are in isolation for suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Ordering is limited to Infectious Disease, Critical Care, and Pulmonology practitioners. Please ask patient to supply from home for chronic conditions.”
- Empiric COVID-19 treatment may be reviewed by Antimicrobial Stewardship for appropriateness.
- Dosing will be limited to: hydroxychloroquine 400 mg twice daily for 1 day, followed by 400 mg daily for 5 days
Restriction of hydroxychloroquine from KHN Retail Pharmacies:
- Dispensations will be limited to a 30-day supply for patients with confirmed diagnosis of RA of SLE