Updated 4:30 pm
While the Martha’s Vineyard boards of health have confirmed three positive antibody tests on the Island, Martha’s Vineyard Hospital officials are not completely sold on the test and are only testing staff as part of a clinical study.
Speaking to reporters on a conference call Tuesday, hospital president and CEO Denise Schepici said the hospital is trying to “follow the science.” She said the researchers with the hospital’s parent company, Partners Healthcare, still don’t know how to interpret antibody tests.
“If you have positive antibodies, we’re still not sure if that means you’re immune,” Schepici said, adding that the state Department of Public Health does not count positive antibody tests as positive COVID-19 tests. “I’m not sure why our boards of health decided to do that.”
Antibody blood tests check a patient’s blood by looking for antibodies, which show if there was a previous infection with COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Antibodies are proteins that help fight infections.
The CDC also says antibody tests should not be used to diagnose someone as being currently sick with COVID-19.
The hospital has conducted antibody tests on fewer than 50 of its own staff as part of a clinical study with their parent company, Partners Healthcare. The hospital is only testing its emergency room workers and some first responders at this time.
“Right now the antibody testing is in the research phase and we’re still trying to figure out what it means in terms of immunity and prevalence if you test positive,” Schepici said.
The hospital is not sharing information from its antibody testing. Schepici said the testing is “too variable” and that the information is only shared with Partners.
While antibody testing is still in the research phase, the hospital continues to test people for COVID-19 who meet strict criteria.
With nursing homes across the state hit hard by the spread of COVID-19, DPH is planning to test all 46 residents and 64 staff of the Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
Tests will be conducted at a to-be-determined time by either the National Guard or a local EMS. No one at Windemere has tested positive for COVID-19
“We’re taking this step really out of an abundance of caution for our residents,” medical director Ellen McMahon said.
In addition to the planned mass testing, Windemere administrator, Marie Zadeh, said the nursing facility is conducting daily screening and temperature checks for staff and residents. Windemere has also suspended its volunteer programs, prohibited visitors, implemented telehealth visits, and supplied all residents with masks.
“Closing Windemere to families, friends, and volunteers has really been a challenge, but the Windemere team has found ways to keep our residents connected and engaged,” Zadeh said. Windemere is using FaceTime and Zoom to connect residents with their families and to continue some activities.
Schepici stressed the need for a new Green House model facility where residents have their own rooms. Plans to replace the costly and outdated Windemere facility have been in the works for months. The hospital has its sights set on a 26.4-acre property in Edgartown
To date, the hospital has conducted 593 tests at the hospital with 23 positive, 562 negative, and eight pending results. There are zero COVID-19 hospitalizations.
Last week, the hospital implemented new criteria to receive a test. Schepici said the biggest change is the removal of the age criteria, allowing for testing of all symptomatic patients. Testing has also been expanded to anyone who is showing symptoms of a new cough, a new sore throat, a fever, new nasal congestion, new shortness of breath, new muscle aches, and new loss of smell.
Of the 26 confirmed cases on the Island (three of them reported through the boards of health unrelated to hospital testing), 15 are female and 11 are male. Nine of the cases are aged 50-59 years old, seven cases are 60-69 years old, five are 20-29 years old, two are 30-39 years old, two are 40-49, and one is 20 years old or younger.
All of this comes as the state plans to unveil its four phase plan to reopen the economy next week.
In his daily press briefing Tuesday, Gov. Charlie Baker said he is planning to file a supplemental $1 billion budget to address state spending related to COVID-19.
Expenses include payments for incentive pay for employees on the frontlines, temporary field hospitals and shelters, National Guard pay, contact tracing program, child care for essential workers, and personal protective equipment (PPE).
Baker did not give any specifics on which businesses might open in the state’s phase one plan, but did say many businesses that are currently operating will continue to do so under the advisory groups’ guidelines.
On the state level Tuesday, there were 870 new confirmed cases reported — a 201 case increase from the previous day. The state reported 33 deaths. Massachusetts has a total of 79,332 confirmed cases and 5,141 deaths. Overall, 401,496 tests have been performed across the state with 4 percent of all cases currently hospitalized.
Updated to include current state numbers. — Ed.
It seems that everywhere hospitals are suspending what used to be routine screening and testing for other than CV. I wonder if it is time to start thinking about the people who will die because they did not get tested for breast and cervical cancer, or prostate cancer. The long term costs of the lock down may not yet be known even to the experts.
good point, Hanley. I recently had some routine blood work done. No problem. Protocols in place made me feel ok about it.
The consequences of lock downs may, in the long run, kill more than the virus itself.
If western civilization shuts down for too long of a period of time to save a million “western” lives, it may very well result in other types of diseases spreading and massive famines in the third world that could kill tens of millions.
The CV is just getting underway in Africa.
I’m sorry. The hospital’s new CEO may be a good person. But she is in way over her head. The messages coming from her institution do no reflect reality and do not address the Island’s needs. Her response to the reality on the ground does not address the Island’s needs. She makes Tim Walsh looks to having been engaged. And he was anything but.
islander– Denise is looking out for the health priorities of islanders and the resources of the hospital.
That is her Job– she seems to be doing a pretty good job.
other people are looking out for the financial health of the island.
That is their job.
There are always competing interest.
We are balancing public health and financial security here.
If you have an issue with her policies or statements endangering the lives of our citizens, state what those concerns are, and how she may redress them. She is not an economist.
Remind us all again of where you got your medical degree? Or your public health policy degree?
I hold a Master’s degree in Public Administration, was three courses from my PhD in Economics when I moved to the Island, and was a healthcare executive for 30+ years.
Hi there! Did you have decision making responsibility for an entire hospital and nursing home during a pandemic? A Masters in public administration and “almost” PhD in economics. Maybe you were a CFO? Not sure I see the direct correlation to those degrees and a public health crisis. I could be wrong. Thank you for your opinion. I beg to differ on whether previous administrators and board members where better equipped to handle a pandemic. Everybody has an axe to grind. Please take your qualifications to the board and ask to replace the current head. If you are better they will take you up on your request when her contract runs out. I don’t agree with everything people do, but I do respect the fact they put themselves out there with as accurate information that they can share. Let’s call out failures that are health related and facts. Her job is not to protect the 6 town’s economies. She could have laid off those primary care nurses who are not fully booked! Could have laid off all the scrub nurses for surgeries that are not happening. You get the picture. Quite the balancing act when you think about it in a more macro view.
Point taken.
islandashamed your comment is good– but i have no idea as to who it is directed at. When commenting in the future, could you please in some way let us know who you are responding to ? The format here makes an attempt, but over multiple comments responding to multiple comments it is not always clear. thanks.
Public Administration and Economics? Thats not a medical degree public health degree. I have a biology degree with courses in virology and bacteriology, that doesnt make me an expert on epidemiology or public health. A PhD doesnt make you an expert on everything.
Islander–you don’t need a medical degree to comment on what the job of the ceo of the hospital is.
There are plenty of people on this forum who know nothing about managing a ferry service, has probably never been at the helm of a boat, but have no problem calling incompetence when they see it.
If I think the ceo of the hospital is doing a good job, and you don’t, well, those are our opinions. It doesn’t make any difference if I went to med school or dropped out of school in the 8th grade.
But to defend my point, look at the numbers. she has done her job.
If you want to complain about the state being on lockdown, you can. From a public health point of view, I think the state and local politicians have done a good job dealing with this bad situation.
From an economic point of view this is a financial disaster.
I guess one’s opinion is formed by whether you value life over money, or money over life.
I guess in this case , I am pro life. (at least lives that are past about 6 months from conception)
I need a doctor, won’t be seen until late summer….let’s hope that everything is ok when I’m tested as they think it could be serious.
My question is how serious does it have to be to be seen by a doctor? My arm cut off? Would that be serious enough MVH?
Have you tried a telemedical visit? It worked for me and they can order tests for you. You should not have to wait so long to have a medical issue addressed. Hope you’re alright.
Let me know when they start testing everyone. I understand some states all ready have it. Testing and contact tracing will help to bring some sanity back to the island.
I expect to become a Bucs fan.