IV Therapy or Home Infusion is Beneficial to Patients

There are many reasons why patients benefit from home infusion by a home health care provider. It is a known fact that patients that care receive care in their own personal setting, rather than in a hospital or medical facility, fair much better with better care and have better outcomes. Prior to the 1980’s, patients that received IV therapy were in an inpatient setting in which they had to remain for the duration of the treatment. Now, however, patients can receive a better quality of care in their own home to get the same IV medications.

 

The Rise in at Home IV Therapy or Home Infusion

 

IV therapy and home infusions are on the rise. Your loved ones can experience one on one specialized care in the comfort of their home without the need for extra costs associated with therapy in a facility.

What is Home Infusion Therapy?

 

Home infusion therapy is quite a simple procedure in which a butterfly needle or catheter is connected to a tube that is inserted into a vein in the forearm. The bag of IV fluids or medications is in a bag and travel through the tube directly into the blood stream. This maximizes the benefits of the medications or fluids given while also lessening the side effects that are possible from the fluids. When the liquids are introduced directly into the blood stream there is no concern that they will not be absorbed into the body, such as when taking medication orally.

 

What Health Conditions are Treated with Infusion Therapy?

 

Home IV therapy can help many patients in different situations that have nutrition absorption disorders and it is usually administered for patients that have been treated orally and have not responded well. This is a clinically appropriate treatment designed for patients with a wide range of chronic and acute conditions. Some of the diseases it addresses are Crohn’s disease, congestive heart failure, hemophilia, immune deficiency, multiple sclerosis, pneumonia, rheumatoid arthritis and urinary tract infections.

 

In addition, some patients need to receive their nutrition through an IV catheter, which can be administered in the comfort of their home. This type of nutrition aid eliminats the need for hospital admission for parenteral nutrition.

 

Immune deficiencies are often treated with at home therapy with intravenous and subcutaneous immunoglobulin therapy to help strengthen the immune system and thereby have fewer hospital visits.

 

Late stage heart failure patients can be discharged home on inotropic infusions, which is shown by studies to allow a person to stay in their home for their final days instead of being in a hospital or other medical facility.

 

Hereditary angioedema is a rare and life threatening genetic disorder of the immune system that causes sudden swelling episodes that can be painful and dangerous. Many times home patients can receive treatment with an emergency infusion at home in very short time rather than going to the emergency room.

 

Is Home Infusion or IV Therapy Safe?

 

Home infusion and IV therapy at home are perfectly safe and effective for treatment of a number of diseases. Patients receive the same medications at home, as they would in a clinic or hospital. The home health nurse is with them the entire time of the treatment to monitor them closely. The professional administering the therapy can reposition the butterfly needle or catheter in the case that it should dislodge, or if the vein has collapsed. In a medical facility, a nurse is assigned to several patients at once and the level of personal care is greatly lessened. The patient’s physician carries out a very detailed assessment of the patient in order to prescribe the exact measurements of IV care needed.

 

Reduced Hospital Stays

 

When a patient stays in the hospital for a longer time, they have a greater risk of hospital acquired infections, which can be very serious. If the patient is discharged quicker to their home with doctor’s orders for IV or infusion treatment, it is much better for their health. Remaining in the home also keeps a patient from traveling to and from a facility to have treatment and possibly contracting a community acquired infection. Patients that have a compromised immune system are even more at risk and benefit greatly from having the medications infused at home.

 

Reduced Costs

 

When a patient has IV therapy at a facility, there is always a cost for the use of the facility, whether it is a clinic or a hospital. Having the same identical therapy at home diminishes costs because you do not have to pay facility fees. It can also be a great relief that a patient does not need to have transportation both to and from a clinic.

 

Better Outcomes for Patients

 

Patients have a much better outcome associated with home therapy when compared to care in a facility. It can ease their mind to be in their own personal setting and knowing that the costs associated with the therapy are lower. The patient can also have family and loved ones around them at home, which has always shown to be a large factor in shortening recovery periods.

 

Theses benefits of  with infusion or IV therapy should ease the mind of the home health treatment loved ones and family members as to the safety and efficacy of having the treatment at home with highly trained personnel and skilled nurses. The care team is compromised of specially trained nurses, dietitians and technicians to provide all encompassing care on an individualized patient’s unique needs. Patient care is coordinated and they may also teach patients, their family and loved ones about the condition and the therapy needed. No matter what type of infusion and level of care is required for a patient, home infusion is most successful for all.

 

 

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