Local infusion centers have become increasingly popular with patients who need infusion therapy. While the traditional approach to receiving infusions meant one had to be admitted in the hospital, the advent of local infusion centers is changing the way IV therapy is administered in the United States.
What is Infusion Therapy?
Infusion therapy is the administration of medication or fluids into the body in a controlled method, usually through intravenous or subcutaneous means. They are usually indicated in the treatment of many common illnesses like migraines and rare, chronic, or high-risk immunological and genetic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, myasthenia gravis, and multiple sclerosis among others.
What are Local Infusion Centers?
Local infusion centers are facilities that offer infusion therapy to patients in a controlled environment outside of the typical hospital setting. These centers aim to provide patients needing highly specialized infusion therapy with safe and comfortable spaces where they can receive treatment under medical supervision.
They also serve to connect highly skilled experts with the patients who need them. This can enhance the quality of care received by patients and ultimately improve their treatment outcomes.
Local infusion centers usually pride themselves in having nurses, pharmacists, and doctors who are trained and board certified in the fields of hematology, oncology, and infusion treatment, thus appealing to patients whose conditions require a great deal of expertise and experience.
How can a Local Infusion Center provide Personalized Care to Patients?
According to a recent study conducted by the National Institute of Health, a greater percentage of Americans who require ongoing IV therapy prefer to receive it outside the confines of a hospital. While for some, this could mean home-based infusion, others prefer to receive theirs under medical supervision in a local infusion center. This is attributed to the high level of comfort and convenience that local infusion centers provide. Here are five ways a local infusion center can offer personalized care and support to patients.
Provision of flexible treatment schedules
Firstly, getting IV Therapy at the hospital means a patient has to be admitted each time they require infusion. This often means longer wait and processing times which can lead to more time missed at work or school, especially for those who require ongoing IV therapy for immunological disorders. An IV infusion center eliminates the need for frequent hospital admissions and provides patients with more flexibility and freedom. Patients simply come in for their therapy at a scheduled time and can return home once they’re done.
Reduction of exposure to infectious diseases
Secondly, getting infusions in a hospital could mean increased exposure to COVID and other infectious diseases. After all, that’s where very sick people go. For people already grappling with immune-suppressing or life-threatening conditions, this could be injurious and sometimes, fatal. By providing a clean and controlled environment, a local infusion center reduces the exposure of patients to such risks, thereby supporting their journey toward recovery and optimal health.
Provision of Copay application assistance
Thirdly, a local infusion center may offer copay assistance. Money is often a big issue for people seeking highly specialized infusion therapy, and accessing benefits from either government-owned or private health insurance companies can be a long and cumbersome task for people with health challenges. Infusion centers support patients by setting up a dedicated team that assists patients with applications for copay assistance. Most centers even provide round-the-clock online and phone assistance to patients during the application process.
One-on-one care from Infusion Nurses
The hospital can be a busy place, with medical staff rotating various shifts and wards. This can often make infusion therapy at hospitals come across as a perfunctory task carried out by the infusion nurse. This is not the case at local infusion centers. Patients are often attended to in a warm, welcoming, and friendly environment that is a sharp contrast from the cold, sterile settings that hospitals are known for. Patients are usually attended to by the same infusion nurse and other medical staff, leading to a personalized and supportive care experience. Infusion nurses also remain with patients throughout the duration of the infusion, to monitor for adverse side effects and other negative reactions. This individualized approach has a positive impact on patients’ treatment outcomes.
Incorporation of wellness and other complimentary services
Perhaps, one of the most visible ways that local infusion centers provide individualized care to patients is their ability to offer a more comfortable environment than many hospitals. Some local infusion centers make the infusion therapy experience more tolerable and enjoyable by providing patients with comfortable seating, an aesthetically pleasing and serene environment and a compassionate human touch. Most centers provide TV viewing, books, entertainment, and even healthy snacks during treatment, as infusions often take a couple of hours.
A local infusion center can be a great option for people who don’t wish to have their infusion at a hospital or at home. By providing personalized and supportive care, a local infusion center can positively improve the health and well-being of patients who require its services.
