Blog

Treatment with IV infusions at home: The Benefits of Infusion Nurses

November 10, 2022
Having to travel to and from the hospital, not to mention the cost of transportation, can make infusion therapy seem like a hassle for patients. Since the advancement of in-home infusion therapy, patients have benefited from its cost-effectiveness as a better alternative. The comfort of your own home is one of the best reasons to consider taking your infusion therapy at home.


What is Infusion Therapy?

Infusion therapy involves administering medication or other treatments directly into the bloodstream. There are two ways of doing this: either through a vein in the arm or by inserting a port under the skin through a vein in the arm. Depending on the patient's condition, IV therapy is prescribed and is found to be the most effective treatment route since it is administered intravenously. 
Intravenous prescription drug therapies include antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, chemotherapy, hydration, pain management, and parental nutrition. Special infusion medications are administered to patients diagnosed with chronic or rare diseases requiring infusion therapy.
 

What is an Infusion Nurse?

An infusion nurse is a registered nurse who administers intravenous medications and fluids. They can work in a variety of settings, which include hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes, among others. It is the responsibility of the infusion nurses to make sure that patient's needs are assessed and that individualized treatment plans are created. As well as monitoring the patient's progress, they respond to complications if they occur. 


Can Infusion Therapy Be Done at Home?

Many different medical conditions can be treated with infusion therapy at home. The convenience of receiving treatment at home allows you to avoid the hassle and stress of going to the hospital. Having infusion therapy in the comfort of your own home can also help you feel more relaxed and comfortable. In addition, it's a good option for people who have difficulty getting to medical appointments. When you receive treatment at home, you won't have to deal with traffic, crowds, or long waits at the doctor's office. You can receive the care you need without having to leave your comfortable environment. Infusion therapy provided at home can also often be more cost-effective than receiving treatment in a hospital.
 

How Effective is Infusion Therapy?

Medication and other treatments can be delivered directly into the body through infusion therapy. Infusion therapy bypasses the digestive system and promotes healing faster than traditional oral delivery methods. Various conditions can be treated with infusion therapy, including chronic pain, cancer, arthritis, and cardiovascular disease. 


What Type of Conditions Can Infusion Therapy Be Used For?

Various conditions can be treated with infusion therapy, including cancer, Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. Drugs or other treatments are infused directly into the bloodstream during the therapy. As a result, the treatment can reach the entire body quickly and effectively. The use of infusion therapy is often used when other forms of treatment, such as oral medication or injections, are ineffective.
Infusion therapy is used for a variety of conditions, including but not limited to:
  • Autoimmune diseases 
  • Cancer 
  • Crohn's disease 
  • Cystic fibrosis 
  • Gastrointestinal disorders 
  • Hematologic disorders 
  • Infectious diseases 
  • Neurological disorders


What Are The Benefits of Infusion Therapy? 

Infusion therapy has many benefits. The following are a few of the most notable:


1. Medication delivery is faster and more accurate.

Compared to oral medications, infusion therapy provides more accurate and faster delivery of medications. In the case of medications that must be delivered quickly to be effective, this is particularly important.


2. Increased safety.

As a result of intravenous therapy, medications and other treatments can directly be delivered to the bloodstream, reducing the risk of side effects from medications as well as other treatments. Additionally, it provides a means of monitoring blood pressure as well as other vital signs, which can help ensure that the patient's safety during the treatment is maintained.


3. Increased comfort.

There is often less discomfort associated with infusion therapy compared to oral medications. As a result, there is no need to swallow pills, which some people find to be challenging and uncomfortable because there is no need to swallow pills.


4. Increased convenience.

Infusion therapy can often be administered at home by a nurse or a doctor, which eliminates the need to make repeated trips to the doctor's office or hospital to receive treatment. Especially for those patients who live far from medical facilities or who have a busy schedule, this can be a great convenience.


5. Increased effectiveness.

Infusion therapy delivers medication directly into the bloodstream, ensuring that the medication reaches its destination as quickly and efficiently as possible. In this way, treatment outcomes can be improved and symptoms can be relieved faster, thus improving the quality of life of patients.
 

What To Expect with In-Home Infusion Therapy? 

With infusion therapy at home, you can still receive the same type of treatment that you would receive in a hospital or clinic, but the comfort of your own home. Infusion nurses are needed to ensure that your infusion sessions go well and are handled professionally. Infusion therapy involves a lot of technical aspects, such as needle changes and alternatives to standard IV lines, depending on your doctor's recommendations. As a result, central lines may be inserted into various parts of your body, such as your neck, chest, groin, and arm, and remain there for an extended period. 


How Long Does an IV Infusion Therapy Last?

IV infusion therapy can last from 30 minutes to several hours, depending on your condition and your doctor's recommendations. Many factors contribute to the length of each treatment, including the medication administered. 


What Are the Roles of An Infusion Nurse? 

Infusion nurses provide health clinical services within the confines of a patient's home. It is also the Registered Infusion Nurse's responsibility to ensure that the services provided to the patient are of the highest quality. In addition, they must follow the appropriate procedures for administering IV medications to ensure uniformity in the level of care. Because of this, we at BrightStar Care Hackensack strive to provide every patient with the highest quality of care. 
 

Contact BrightStar Care Hackensack Today! 

Looking into IV Infusion Therapy may be overwhelming, but with BrightStar Care, we ensure to make the process so much easier for you. We are confident that our team of professionals will assist you in looking for the right Infusion Nurse to take care of your loved one by keeping you in the loop and more. Contact us today to learn more about our services. Our office is at Home care in Emerson, NJ70 Kinderkamack Road Suite 101 Emerson, NJ 07630. You may also call us at 201-483-8490. We look forward to hearing from you soon!