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Your doctor may order infusion therapy for you to treat any one of a variety of ailments and chronic illnesses, but they don’t generally administer your treatment themselves. Instead, a healthcare provider might perform your procedure at a hospital or send you to an outpatient infusion center.
Let’s explore what an infusion center is, why these outpatient clinics are well-suited for infusion therapies, and what to expect when you go for treatment.
Ambulatory, or outpatient, infusion centers are safe, controlled, and clean facilities that specialize in infusion therapy. This method involves administering medications or fluids directly into your bloodstream through intravenous infusion to address a wide range of conditions, such as:
Infusion therapy offers rapid and efficient treatment, especially when oral medications are ineffective, poorly absorbed, or unsuitable for your condition.
Hospitals are equipped with extensive medical resources and specialized staff, so they can manage complex cases and promptly address severe adverse reactions during infusion therapy. However, there are also numerous benefits to receiving treatments at an infusion center, which include:
Moreover, outpatient infusion centers can provide administrative assistance and work directly with your physician to secure infusion therapy insurance coverage, authorization, and reimbursement.
Infusion therapy is beneficial for patients who cannot tolerate oral medications due to gastrointestinal issues, difficulty swallowing, or severe nausea. In addition, infusions can administer medications that are unstable or ineffective when taken through the digestive system. Delivering medication directly into the bloodstream is also necessary in critical situations such as life-threatening allergic reactions, severe dehydration, or hypertensive emergencies.
During infusion therapy, medication and fluids enter your bloodstream through an IV line. Once the infusion is in your system, it circulates systemically to reach target organs or tissues directly and trigger a physiological response.
The nature of the response depends on the type of infusion therapy and your condition.
After check-in, a nurse will take your vital signs, which include heart rate, temperature, blood pressure, and respirations, before directing you to a designated area for your infusion therapy. They will make sure you are sitting or reclining comfortably.
Your provider will then find a suitable vein, usually in the arm or hand, clean the skin with antiseptic, and carefully insert a sterile needle to place a thin, flexible tube called a catheter. This catheter connects your circulatory system to the IV line and the prescribed infusion solution bag.
How long the infusion takes varies based on the specific therapy and can range from 30 minutes to several hours. Throughout the procedure, your infusion team will closely monitor your vital signs and watch for any adverse reactions so they can quickly intervene if necessary.
You may have to remain in the outpatient infusion center for a short observation period to make sure you are stable before your discharge. Once the observation time is complete, staff will remove the catheter and apply a small bandage to the insertion site. Your care team will provide you with post-infusion care instructions, which may include guidelines on how active you can be, how much water you should drink, and which potential complications to watch for at home.
As with most medical procedures, following preparation recommendations beforehand can help ensure a smoother, more effective infusion therapy session:
Before your first infusion therapy session, familiarizing yourself with the treatment process can help relieve any anxiety you might have. Write down a list of concerns to discuss with your infusion team, and make sure you continue asking questions until you fully understand the procedure and any potential side effects.
Do you still have questions about what an infusion center can do for your care or how outpatient facilities streamline treatment? Contact us at Healix Infusion Care to learn more. We’ll guide you through every step, help you find a convenient location, and address any concerns so you can feel confident in your treatment and focus on feeling better.
This information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or professional services. It is intended as a general resource to aid in understanding diagnoses and treatment options. If you have concerns about a medical condition or are interested in a specific treatment, please consult your healthcare provider.
