 | Charlie Traffas has been involved in marketing, media, publishing and insurance for more than 40 years. In addition to being a fully-licensed life, health, property and casualty agent, he is also President and Owner of Chart Marketing, Inc. (CMI). CMI operates and markets several different products and services that help B2B and B2C businesses throughout the country create customers...profitably. You may contact Charlie by phone at (316) 721-9200, by e-mail at ctraffas@chartmarketing.com, or you may visit at www.chartmarketing.com. |
Health & Medicine
2006-03-30 14:20:00
What is infusion therapy and how can it help me?
Answer: Infusion therapy involves putting fluids, including drugs, directly into the bloodstream. It is also called intravenous infusion. Many people may require infusion therapy at some time in their lives. Drug therapies commonly administered by infusion therapy include antibiotics, chemotherapy, pain management, IV nutrition, hydration, and immune globulin (blood transfusion). Diagnoses commonly requiring infusion therapy include infections that are unresponsive to oral antibiotics; cancer and cancer-related pain; gastrointestinal diseases or disorders which prevent normal functioning of the gastrointestinal system; congestive heart failure; immune disorders; anemia; and growth hormone deficiencies. Infusion therapy can be provided in the hospital or on an outpatient basis. Working with their doctor, people who are well enough to leave the hospital can get the medications they need in a physician’s office or in an outpatient infusion center. Nationwide, there are approximately 4,500 infusion therapy sites of service, including local and national organizations, hospital-affiliated organizations, and national home infusion organizations. Outpatient infusion centers are becoming more popular with patients because it usually takes less time to receive treatment than in a hospital setting and is more convenient to use. Health care providers like outpatient infusion centers because it frees up beds needed for patients who require an inpatient stay. As we learn more about what helps people relax and be comfortable, the newer outpatient infusion centers are designed for increased patient comfort and convenience. Patients have more control over their treatment schedules. Parking is nearby. Recliners are usually provided within the center, and the person can relax and watch television or chat with other patients while receiving treatment. If privacy is desired, curtains can be pulled to separate people.Registered nurses who have extensive experience in starting IVs and caring for IV patients staff outpatient infusion centers. People who have the occasion to use an outpatient infusion center are usually pleased with the care they have received and the way they can fit infusion therapy into their schedules.
