Mineral Community Hospital provides the specialized service of IV Infusion Therapy.
Infusion therapy is when you receive medication or vitamins directly through a vein. Infusion therapy is primarily used to treat severe or chronic diseases and infections that may not respond to oral treatments. Infusion therapy can be done in an outpatient setting, meaning you can set a time to come to the hospital and get your infusion and then go about your day. All we need is for you to mention to your provider that you want to come to MCH for your IV infusion therapy and he or she can write up an order, then you can contact MCH to make an appointment.
Are there any risks involved with infusion therapy?
Insertion of an IV often goes smoothly, but as with any procedure, there are risks.
If you need to have many infusions, it can cause scar tissue to form over time, which may cause damage to your veins. Some risks of IV therapy can include:
· collapsed veins
· infection
· phlebitis
· air embolism
Other risks depend on the type of medications you’re receiving. Any new medication can cause your body to react strongly. If you’re going to have a reaction, it typically happens the first time you get a particular treatment. To mitigate this, we will often have you stay after your infusion to monitor you for any signs/symptoms of a reaction after that first infusion until we feel you are stable.
Your doctor will explain the potential risks of your therapy and signs to watch for. Expect to be monitored throughout your therapy. Also ask your doctor about any follow-up appointments and things to watch out for at home. Some of the signs of infusion reaction include:
· cough
· facial flushing
· fever, chills
· headache
· itching
· muscle or joint pain and stiffness
· nausea
· rash or hives
· shortness of breath
· swelling of hands, legs, ankles, or feet
· swelling of the tongue, lips, or eyelids
Before starting infusion therapy, let your doctor know about all the medications you’re taking as well as dietary and herbal supplements, as these can interact.
The bottom line
Infusion therapy is the administration of medication or fluids in a controlled method. It’s done most often intravenously or subcutaneously.
Infusion therapy is used to dispense many treatments for a wide variety of conditions. It’s typically administered by nurses or other trained healthcare providers, usually in a clinical setting.
Speak with your healthcare provider about the potential benefits and risks of infusion therapy, and what you can do to make it as safe and effective as possible.