Home Infusion Therapy
Typically, infusion therapy means that a drug is administered intravenously, but the term also may refer to subcutaneous infusions. Prescription drug therapies commonly administered via infusion include intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, chemotherapy, hydration, pain management and parenteral nutrition. Infusion therapy is also provided to patients for treating a wide assortment of often chronic and sometimes rare diseases for which specialty infusion medications are effective when given on a weekly or monthly basis.
Infusion therapy involves the administration of medication through a needle or catheter. It is prescribed when a condition is so severe it cannot be treated effectively by oral medications, or there are no oral therapies that meet the needs of the patient.
Specialty
The term ‘specialty infusion therapy’ refers to the administration of medications that require specialized infusion methods. In this situation the term specialty indicates that the drug therapy itself requires significant pharmacy expertise to safely administer the therapy in the home as well as to obtain third party payment for the therapy and, finally, coordinating the interactions between the home infusion pharmacy and the home health nursing service. Complex ordering, shipping, mixing, storing, delivering and monitoring activities are all involved in the specialty infusion therapy process.
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