Saturday, September 22, 2012

Important Facts About Infusion Therapy Long Island Residents Should Know

By Rebekah Alford


Infusion therapy is a general term that encompasses fluid and medication infusion administered intravenously. It is the best alternative ailments that do not respond to oral therapy. This forces a medical practitioner to prescribe it instead. Non-oral routes like intramuscular injections and the membranes aligning the spinal cord are in active involvement. But before administering infusion therapy Long Island residents should know important facts about it.

It owes its existence to the two world wars. It has been in use for less than a century now. The original attempts to deliver a functional therapy were curtailed by lack of proper scientific methods. In the last 25 years major developments in drugs, equipment and procedures have occurred. Intravenous administration was known to be possible before this.

It can be used to deliver medications like antibiotics, antivirals, and cancer drugs. It also plays a role in pain management where patients receive pain relief via an infusion pump. After most surgeries convalescents have it to hydrate them. For patients who are not in the position to eat or are unwilling, it delivers their nutrition.

Immune deficiencies, multiple sclerosis, congestive heart failures are a few among the diseases treated with it. The patient remains on medication until when it is no longer required. In the past it was strictly an inpatient affair. The convalescent was discharged on completing the scheduled medication. This is not the case today.

The traditional approach was costly and rigid. Having it for a long time translates to a hefty medical bill and prevents one from doing housework or an office job. The medical fraternity came up with better ideas that have remained relevant. This was evidenced in the emergence of home therapy and infusion pharmacies offering both traditional and specialized therapies.

A doctor would normally prescribe it, is subjected to predetermined reasons. The patient then places an order with a licensed service provider for the process to be administered either at home or the outpatient suite. Efforts of a good nurse combined with the state pharmacies are geared towards the treatment of the patient. They have to work hand in hand.

Planning the therapy is done by the doctor to help the nurse in administration of the due process. The nurse is obliged to uphold the standards of it and be at the service of the patient when required. The patient may take it upon themselves to acquaint with the nurse allocated. This rids them of being uncomfortable and clears ambiguity beforehand.

It also gives hope to patients who will be inconvenienced by oral medication and at the same time it is fast. Since medication is directly administered into the bloodstream the full dosage is absorbed. Oral medication passes through the liver first for degradation. The prescribed dosage is therefore not fully absorbed and cannot be monitored.

It also exposes the patient to risks like vein inflammation and infiltration of intravenous fluid into the surrounding tissues. If due care is not exercised fluid may be administered at a faster rate or in excessive volume thus causing an overload. In other words, it is generally a fragile process. A small mishap could cause greater consequences. Therefore when considering having the infusion therapy Long Island residents should take it seriously.




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