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Recuperation from
illness, in the safety and comfort of home, is now possible because of
new advances in infusion technology.
Home
infusion is very diverse and may include intravenous antibiotic
therapy, chemotherapy, hydration, pain management, total parenteral
nutrition (TPN) as well as subcutaneous infusions for disease specific
therapies.
Infusion
therapy is a collaborative program that includes the patient and
family, a home infusion pharmacist, a specially trained home care
nurse, and the physician. This interdisciplinary team provides an
individualized plan-of-care, with a self-care focus for patients, and
family education.
Patients and
family take an active role in all aspects of intravenous therapy,
including monitoring of the insertion site, catheter line management,
medication administration and operation of an electronic infusion
control device (ambulatory pump). The patient and family must be able
to learn signs and symptoms of complications that require immediate
attention.
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- Provide services in the patient's home and reduce the cost
of hospitalization
- Ensure safety and availability of professional support
applying the Intravenous Nurse's Social Guidelines
- Render positive outcomes via a holistic interdisciplinary
approach in the management of the disease process
- Provide instructions related to the intravenous medications
and nutritional additives
- Facilitate compliance with physician follow up visits
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multidisciplinary team is utilized to provide care for the patient
to optimize the achievement of desired outcomes. |
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- Infusion Nurse
Specialist
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The infusion nurse is a registered nurse with
extensive experience in caring for patients receiving IV
therapy. She/he is responsible for the coordination,
development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of
interdisciplinary plans of care for the patient receiving
IV therapy in the home setting
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Infusion Nurse
- The infusion nurse bases clinical
judgment and decision making on the nursing process,
nursing theory and research. She/he provides direct
care and collaborates with other health care professionals
to provide appropriate effective care and education.
- Registered Nurse
- Educates the patient / caregiver, follows guidelines
established by individual
physicians and mutually sets goals with the patient /
caregiver to prevent complications, emergency room visits
and hospitalization.
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Physical/Occupational Therapist
- Develops an individualized exercise
program for patients, improves endurance, activity levels
and safety through established and recognized practices
and guidelines developed by physicians and therapists for
home maintenance.
- Medical Social
Worker
- Addresses the psychological
and social issues related to the disease process,
noncompliance problems, medication costs, sexuality, death
and dying and resourcing multiple needs of the home care
patient.
- Home Health Aide
- Provides personal care services to the home
care patient who is unable to provide his/her own care
safely.
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Our teaching plan is based on
national standards of nursing practice. A comprehensive assessment
of the patient / caregiver’s current knowledge and skill is
completed. An individual educational plan is developed based on
the patient / caregiver’s needs. Teaching includes, but is not
limited to the
following: |
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Safe administration of IV medication |
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Universal precautions |
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Aseptic techniques |
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Signs/symptoms of complications and appropriate
intervention |
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Medication regime and compliance |
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Follow up with scheduled physician appointments |
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Diet regime |
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Risk factors associated with the disease process |
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| Home infusion therapy
provides skilled nursing care to patients in need of IV therapy in
the home setting. Our goals are achieved through srategies
that increase the patient's level of independence and decrease the
effects of existing disabilities in the patient's home.
There are many objectives that encompass the scope of infusion
services. These include but are not limited to: |
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1. To provide a bridge of care linking the patient between the
inpatient setting and community, that improves the quality of the
patient’s life and maximizes the potential to live at home.
2. Provide an anchor of stability, to maintain the patient in the
community and to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations.
3. Support of family / caregiver to assist them in managing the
patient’s illness.4. Act as an educational resource to the
patient or caregiver on such issues as medication administration,
signs / symptoms, complications and importance of compliance.
5. Provide nursing interventions directed at maintaining patients
at their maximum functional level and preventing further
deterioration.
6. Coordinate the needed services of other disciplines.
7. To facilitate the transition from acute care facilities to
family care or to other community - based living
arrangements. |
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