Receiving a diagnosis of a chronic medical condition comes with a lot of uncertainty about the future — how will it affect your daily life? What does treatment entail? What can you expect from your new normal? Adding insult to injury, the anxiety levels may increase exponentially when you realize you’ll have to receive infusion treatment. Does that mean that you have to go to the hospital on a regular basis? How will being in a sterile environment such as medical facilities on a regular basis affect your morale and mental wellbeing? How are you supposed to be in good spirits if all you see are the inside of hospital walls?
Outpatient Infusion Treatment vs Hospital Infusion Centers
Infusion treatment refers to medication that is administered through an IV. It’s a viable alternative for patients who haven’t responded well to oral medications or for whom their health condition makes it difficult to swallow pills. It also comes with the benefit that since it’s infused directly into a vein, it reaches the bloodstream immediately — providing faster relief. However, as effective as it may be, it typically has to be administered on a regular basis. This means the patient will have to keep returning to medical facilities as part of their new routine. While it’s possible to receive such treatments at hospitals, there’s also the option of receiving infusions at outpatient centers.
Infusion Treatments at Hospitals
Infusion treatments are traditionally administered in hospitals. You arrive for your appointment, and a nurse meets with you and escorts you to a treatment room. While necessary, the setting does little for the patient’s morale, since they’re often large rooms with frigid temperatures, medical equipment, and medications in plain view that remind you that you’re at a hospital — making the experience intimidating and uncomfortable. In addition, each treatment is costly.
Infusion Treatments at Outpatient
Having to undergo infusion treatment on a regular basis can be disheartening. However, outpatient infusion treatments offer individuals seeking care in a less sterile and cold environment than a hospital. Specifically, at Infusion Associates, all of our treatment rooms are set up to feel like a home away from home. You’ll receive treatment in comfortable reclining chairs — as well as warm blankets, and WiFi. If you’d prefer to watch a movie or show, we have television screens available, too. And, to provide an extra level of comfort, we offer coffee, tea, and/or hot cocoa to all our patients. You are welcome to enjoy a cup while receiving your treatment or bring your snacks and beverages of preference from home.
In short, outpatient treatments offer a more convenient, comfortable, and familiar setting to patients. And, infusion treatments at outpatient facilities are significantly more cost-effective than receiving treatment at a hospital.
If Your Doctor Has Recommended Infusion Therapy, Let Infusion Associates Help You
At Infusion Associates, we provide medically-prescribed infusion therapy for patients with chronic conditions in a welcoming and friendly environment. Our team of healthcare professionals is fully committed to making the experience as comfortable as possible for you or your patients. We always inform patients of any potential side effects and answer all their questions before starting treatment. In addition, we have a Registered Pharmacist onstaff to make the process as seamless as possible.
If you would like to refer a patient to us or want to inquire about the treatments we offer, you can contact us by calling us at (616) 954-0600 or filling out this form.