by 
What is Home Infusion Therapy?
Home infusion therapy, also called outpatient infusion therapy, involves delivering medications through an intravenous (IV) line to treat certain diseases or conditions. Instead of receiving treatment in a hospital or infusion center, patients can have infusion therapies administered in the comfort of their own home.
Common Conditions Treated with Home Infusion Therapy
There are several chronic or complex medical conditions that are often treated using home infusion therapy. Some of the most common include:
Antibiotic Therapy
Many serious bacterial infections require long-term IV antibiotic treatment. Home infusion allows patients to complete their prescribed course of antibiotics without prolonged hospitalization. Antibiotics commonly given through home infusion include vancomycin, cefepime, and piperacillin/tazobactam.
Immune Globulin Therapy
Primary immune deficiency disorders and some autoimmune diseases require monthly infusions of immune globulin (IgG) injections to replace missing antibodies. Home infusion provides a convenient way for patients to receive their IgG treatments at home on a scheduled basis.
Parenteral Nutrition
Patients who are unable to consume food orally due to conditions like Crohn’s disease, short bowel syndrome, or cancer may require parenteral nutrition (PN). PN provides complete nutrition through an IV line and is commonly administered at home after training.
Hydration Therapy
Some patients require IV fluid administration due to conditions that impact oral intake such as congestive heart failure or chronic renal failure. Home IV hydration helps manage fluid levels and electrolyte balance and prevent hospital readmissions.
Pain Management Therapy
Chronic pain conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or cancer related pain are sometimes treated with long-term IV pain medications. Home therapy allows for around-the-clock symptom management without constant hospitalization. Commonly used IV pain medications include morphine, fentanyl, and hydromorphone.
Other Therapies
In addition to those conditions listed above, home infusion may also be used to provide treatment for congestive heart failure, multiple sclerosis, cancer, and various enzyme deficiencies through therapies such as IV diuretics, steroids, chemotherapy drugs, or enzyme replacement.
Benefits of Home Infusion Therapy
Receiving medically prescribed infusion treatments at home offers several notable benefits over prolonged hospitalization or visiting an outpatient center regularly:
– Increased Comfort & Convenience – Patients can relax in the comfort of their own home and sleep in their own bed. There is no travel to and from appointments. Daily activities are less disrupted.
– Improved Quality of Life – Having treatment at home allows patients to maintain normal routines, spend time with friends/family, and avoid lengthy stays away from home. Overall life quality feels less impacted.
– Cost Savings – Home infusion is typically much less expensive than prolonged or repeated hospitalization for equivalent treatments. Insured patients pay lower out-of-pocket costs too.
– Less Risk of Hospital Infection – Hospital environments pose higher risks of contracting infections like MRSA or C.difficile during vulnerable periods of medical treatment. Homecare reduces exposure risks.
– individualized Scheduling – Treatment dates/times can be coordinated based on patients’ personal schedules rather than fitting into clinic/ward routines. This promotes treatment adherence.
– Continuity of Care – There are no disruptions or transitions between healthcare settings. Consistency in nursing staff/care provider allows close monitoring of the patient’s entire treatment course.
Process for Receiving Home Infusion Therapy
For a patient to begin home infusion therapy, several important steps must be followed:
1. Medical Evaluation & Ordering – A healthcare provider evaluates the patient and medical need for home infusion. Physician orders the prescribed therapy.
2. Insurance Authorization – The ordered therapy requires insurance approval depending on coverage. The home infusion pharmacy/provider obtains this authorization.
3. Nurse Assessment – A home health nurse visits to assess the home environment, conduct a physical assessment and patient teaching before starting therapy.
4. Central Line Placement – For some long-term therapies, a central venous catheter (Port-a-cath or PICC line) may need to be placed by a doctor for IV access.
5. Pharmacy & Equipment Setup – The home infusion pharmacy supplies all needed medications, supplies, equipment and pump delivery devices for admininstering therapy.
6. Training – Nurses train the patient/caregivers on everything from line/site care to using equipment to recognizing side effects before initiating administration.
7. Treatment at Home – Treatment is supervised by home health nurses and the prescribing doctor on an ongoing basis, usually with periodic home visits and 24/7 support access.
Considerations for Home Infusion Safety
While convenient for many patients, it is important that home infusion therapy be set up and conducted as safely as possible. Key aspects of safe home infusion include:
– Clean & uncluttered treatment area that is easy to keep sanitized
– Access to emergency response systems if reactions occur
– Refrigerated storage for temperature-sensitive medications
– Backup power sources in case of local power outages
– Compliance with infection control precautions and waste disposal
– Ongoing nursing & physician oversight throughout treatment
With appropriate training and precautions in place, home infusion can offer comparable medical outcomes to hospitalized care for many chronic or complex medical conditions. Patients and clinicians work together with the common goals of improved quality of life and recovery at home whenever safely possible. As technology advances, home infusion methods will likely expand treatment options even further.
*Note:
- Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
- We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
