Infusion Services

Infusion therapy is the administration of medications directly into the body through a blood vessel, under the skin, or into a muscle. With current advances in treatment and technology, it now is possible to infuse most medications at home. This therapy sometimes is started while the patient is in the hospital and continues at home after discharge, or is started at home altogether. Therapy may continue until the patient no longer needs the medication or is able to go to an ambulatory infusion center or physician office for ongoing infusions.

Longer-term infusion therapy—the kind done at home—usually requires an access site on the torso of the body, rather than in the arms or hands.

Some of the most common reasons for needing home infusion therapy include the following:

• Cancer
• Chronic pain
• Dehydration
• Gastrointestinal (GI) problems—Crohn’s disease, bowel obstructions, irritable bowel syndrome
• Heart failure
• Immune system problems
• Serious infections

• The physician orders the medication and evaluates its effectiveness through lab tests and input from the pharmacist and nurse.
• The pharmacist prepares the prescribed medication and ensures that the medication, infusion pump, and supplies are delivered to the right patient, at the right time, in the right dosage.
• The nurse teaches the patient/caregiver how to infuse the medication based on the method selected so that the patient can become independent.