LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Norton Healthcare Foundation announced that it received a $125,000 grant from the PNC Foundation to assist it in supporting COVID-19 relief efforts in the community.
The funds will be used to provide antibody testing as part of the Norton Healthcare Convalescent Plasma Program, make additional testing available for patients and provide meals for employees.
“We’re grateful to the PNC Foundation for helping us increase the number of people we can test to determine if they are potential plasma donors,” said Lynnie Meyer, senior vice president and chief development officer, Norton Healthcare. “So far, we’ve been able to give plasma to 18 patients, and we’re seeing very encouraging results.”
Antibody testing currently is available to individuals who had a confirmed positive COVID-19 test, as well as those who had symptoms and were in close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19 after March 4, 2020. If a person has developed antibodies to COVID-19, their plasma potentially can save someone who is critically ill with the virus.
“The challenges faced by healthcare professionals are something no one could have predicted,” said Chuck Denny, PNC regional president for Louisville. “The team at Norton Healthcare has been working tirelessly to bring treatment options to patients severely impacted by COVID-19, and we are determined to help in the best way possible. Supporting the ability for this testing will help us keep the community safer as well as possibly provide a therapy that can save a life.”
The second part of testing funded by the PNC Foundation involves the use of a nasal swab to determine if a patient is COVID-19 positive. The tests will be used as part of the pre-admission testing process for patients coming to the hospital for prescheduled procedures. Once hospitals resume non-emergency procedures, testing will be an important safety measure, especially since research has found that some patients are positive without showing symptoms. The test provides a rapid result and will help determine if a person should be isolated to protect against the spread of the virus.
An additional part of this grant will purchase meals for caregivers.
The $125,000 grant is part of a total of $440,000 the PNC Foundation is awarding the Greater Louisville market specifically for COVID-19 relief efforts.
Norton Healthcare is not-for-profit and relies on support from the community. Individuals or organizations that would like to help can start by calling (502) 629-8060. A few ways you can make a difference right now:
- Norton Healthcare is accepting donations of personal protective equipment (PPE). Call for more information.
- Make a donation to the Community Foundation of Louisville – Norton Healthcare Foundation Community COVID-19 Fund, which will help provide support for additional programs to help fund COVID-19 response.
- Make a gift to the Norton Healthcare Foundation that will support meals and other initiatives for our care teams.
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