We all want to feel our best, but going to the hospital or doctor can be a daunting task that deters many from seeking the medical care and attention they need. That being said, there are at-home options for infusions that are both safe and effective and that can help to ease the medical journey of anyone taking them.
What Is an At-Home Infusion?
A home infusion is just like the infusions that are done at the hospital but they are done either by a traveling nurse or home care professional or the person that is receiving the infusion. They can also be done by someone in the home that is caring for the patient. The infusion can be for a range of things. It can be for administering things like antiviral medication, immune globulin or antibiotic medication.
This process does involve some prep either at the hospital or a medical facility before the medication can be administered at home. Generally, this means that the doctor is going to have to insert either a catheter that goes up the arm and into the body, or they are going to have to insert an IV so the medication can be done at home. They may also use a port in some cases.
The medical professional will then give a lesson to anyone that is not in the medical field that will be handling the infusions about the proper use of the catheter, how to administer the medication and what to do if something goes wrong.
Home Infusion Safety
When it comes to the safety of home infusion therapies, they really are quite safe. When you are sent home with any sort of catheter or IV where medication is meant to be administered, doctors are going to make sure that they tell you, and anyone that might be going to work with the infusion, how to do so safely and properly. They will tell you what signs to look for if something goes wrong, they will help you learn how to make sure the medication is being administered properly, and they may even suggest you hire a home health nurse to help with the treatment.
If it was not safe, many doctors would not suggest that it be used. The person that is administering the medication is not doing any actual medical work. The port or the catheter or the IV is already in place, they simply have to flush the line with clean saline, then administer the pre-portioned medication on the timetable that the doctor has set forth. There are plenty of chances for those involved to ask for clarification and there is often ample literature sent home that helps explain the process and helps you to take your home infusions safely.