Home infusion therapy: meeting a need

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Practice
• Patient Care Services

Background:

• Midsize hospitals face challenges in managing patients requiring specialized infusion therapies post-discharge.
• Existing healthcare models may not adequately address the complexities of continuous home-based infusion care.
• A need exists for structured programs to facilitate safe and effective transitions for infusion therapy patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and implementation of a comprehensive home infusion program at a midsize hospital.
• To outline the key components including credentialing, referral processes, and quality assurance/improvement (QA/QI).
• To highlight the role of the specialized infusion nurse in patient education and care coordination.

Main Methods:

• Development of a dedicated home infusion program framework.
• Establishment of clear patient referral pathways and provider credentialing criteria.
• Integration of a quality assurance and quality improvement (QA/QI) process.
• Definition of the infusion nurse's responsibilities: in-hospital teaching, discharge coordination, and home follow-up.

Main Results:

• A functional home infusion program was successfully established.
• The program facilitates collaboration among physicians, social workers, hospital nurses, and external home infusion therapy providers.
• The infusion nurse plays a pivotal role in ensuring continuity of care from hospital to home.

Conclusions:

• The developed home infusion program effectively addresses the needs of patients requiring infusion therapies after hospital discharge.
• Such programs enhance patient care continuity and support by integrating hospital and home-based services.
• Multidisciplinary collaboration and specialized nursing roles are crucial for successful home infusion therapy management.