Patient-teaching program for home intravenous antimicrobial therapy.

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Healthcare Management
• Patient Education

Background:

• Home intravenous (i.v.) antimicrobial therapy programs require standardized patient education.
• Effective patient teaching is crucial for successful home-based treatment.
• Multidisciplinary collaboration is essential for developing comprehensive home therapy programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development of a home i.v. antimicrobial therapy program.
• To outline standardized patient teaching procedures for home antimicrobial therapy.
• To evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of a hospital-based home i.v. antimicrobial program.

Main Methods:

• A 940-bed teaching hospital's pharmacy department collaborated with four other departments.
• Standardized teaching methods were developed for a home i.v. antimicrobial therapy program.
• A home antimicrobial therapy manual was created, with contributions from pharmacy and nursing.

Main Results:

• Over 16 months, 37 patients received i.v. antimicrobial therapy upon hospital discharge.
• The majority of patients or their caregivers demonstrated proficiency in preparing and administering medications.
• The pharmacy department provided post-discharge services including medication supply, pharmacokinetic dosing, and patient support.

Conclusions:

• Hospitals offering home i.v. antimicrobial therapy should foster interdepartmental coordination.
• Standardized patient-teaching methods are vital for the success of home antimicrobial therapy programs.
• Effective program development requires collaboration among pharmacy, nursing, and other relevant departments.