The IV Therapy Journey - From Hospitals to Home Infusion

Did You Know? The modern IV drip technique was developed in the 1950s

IV Therapy is the Fastest Way to Deliver Fluid or Medication to the Body

While Modern IV Therapy is Less Than a Century Old, It Was Known That Medications Could be Injected Into Veins as Early as the 1600s

When a patient’s condition becomes so severe that it cannot be treated effectively by oral medications, infusion therapy is indicated. What is infusion (IV) therapy? What conditions does it treat? And where are infusion treatments administered?

The following information has been prepared to help provide general information about infusion therapy.

01│What is Infusion Therapy

With infusion therapy, medication is administered through the use of a sterile catheter inserted into a vein and secured. While traditionally used only in hospitals, infusion therapy can now be administered in outpatient infusion therapy centers and even in the patient’s home under the care of specially trained nurses.

02│Conditions Treated by Infusion Therapy

Infusion therapy can be used to treat several conditions, including:

• Serious or chronic infections that do not respond to oral antibiotics
• Cancers and associated pain
• Diseases of the GI tract
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Some forms of arthritis
• Congestive heart failure
• Immune deficiency disorders

03│Home Infusion

Until the 1980s, patients receiving infusion therapy had to remain in an inpatient facility during therapy. With an emphasis on cost management and developments in the clinical administration of therapy, strategies were established to administer infusion therapy in alternate settings, and eventually in the patient’s home. Home infusion has proven to be a safe and effective alternative to inpatient care for many diseases and therapies.

Infusion nurses have specialized training and expertise in home and alternate-site administration of drugs and biologics via infusion. The services they provide include:

• Evaluation and assessment
• Education and training for the patient or caregiver
• Inspection and consultation of aseptic home environment
• Catheter insertion
• Patient assessment

With the education and training provided by infusion nurses, many caregivers and patients are able to administer some infusion therapies without the infusion nurse being present in the home.

To learn more about infusion therapy, please visit: http://www.nhia.org/index.cfm

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References

http://www.nhia.org/about-home-infusion.cfm

https://blog.avella.com/what-is-infusion-therapy-what-diseases-does-it-treat

https://www.medonegroup.com/aboutus/blog/everything-you%20need-to-know-for-infusion-therapy

https://blog.a4m.com/iv-therapy-facts-vs-fiction/