caring for generations
Infusion Therapy
The staff and patients of LifeCare's Infusion Therapy department are excited to have a new place to call their own.
Until recently, the service was located in a shared space in LifeCare's outpatient area.
Now located in a remodeled space on the hospital's north side, Infusion Therapy is much better equipped to handle the increasing number of patients who have chosen to receive treatment locally rather than drive sometimes more than 100 miles to receive the same medication.
"Once patients realize we offer the same treatment and level of care right here in Roseau, many of them make the decision to come here instead of travel, especially when they require daily treatments," says Kim Vatnsdal, RN.
Switching to LifeCare for infusion therapy services is easy.
"All you have to do is speak up. Simply explain to your healthcare provider you want to receive treatment at LifeCare, and between us we will handle the rest," she says.

LifeCare patient Janet Rose relaxes in one of the plush recliners in the new Infusion Therapy department as registered nurse Kim Vatnsdal demonstrates how she will deliver medication through the arm. The new Infusion Therapy department includes three full time nurses who administer infusions and injections to treat a list of conditions ranging from cancer to bone density loss.
Cancer Treatment
Because of LifeCare's Infusion Therapy department, chemotherapy patients no longer need to travel long distances seeking needed care.
In fact, these days the situation is reversed.

LifeCare Infusion Therapy's team of registered nurses includes (from left to
right): Patti Berger, RN; Jodi Beito, RN; and Kim Vatnsdal, RN.

Dr. Daniel Walsh of Altru Cancer Center and his nurse practitioner travel to Roseau the last Friday of the month to see patients in person.
And thanks to LifeCare's new Telemedicine program, Dr. Walsh also "sees"
patients in the middle of the month via the hospital's two-way video conferencing equipment.
As a result, many patients are happy that they are able to have their treatments in Roseau.

Injections & Additional Care
In addition to chemotherapy, the Infusion Therapy department offers many injection services including antibiotics, blood products, support medications, IV fluids, and treatments such as those for reversing bone loss due to osteoporosis.
Then, of course, there is the non-medicinal benefit of a friendly team of talented registered nurses who make up the Infusion Therapy department.
The three; consisting of Patti Berger, RN; Kim Vatnsdal, RN; and Jodi Beito, RN; are a welcome addition to the treatment their patients receive.
"These girls always have a smile on their face," says regular patient Janet Rose of Roseau. "I consider myself a stubborn Norwegian, but they really know how to make your day special."
The feeling, it seems, is mutual.
"In many ways our patients become like family," says Berger. "We see many of them on a weekly basis. Or sometimes five days a week for several weeks, so you get pretty close to them."
All three nurses have completed specialized training and have received national certification through the Oncology Nursing Society, an organization dedicated to excellence in patient care, education, research, and administration in oncology nursing.
"We already know a lot of these people, and then they become our patients," says Berger. "So it's very easy to carry on a personal conversation with them."


Cozy Atmosphere
With its warm colored walls, hardwood style flooring, flat panel TV screens and the choice between a traditional bed or a plush recliner, the new Infusion Therapy department is comforting and inviting.
"We really wanted to create a space that felt more like home than a hospital ward," says Roxanne Fabian, Director of Nursing at LifeCare. "The colors, the woodwork, the fabrics plus several small touches all help create that homelike feeling."
One small touch with big impact is the concealing of medical equipment behind a piece of wall art in each of the four patient stations.
Raising a simple hinge mechanism behind the artwork reveals an access panel containing hookups to oxygen lines and other medical equipment that are needed for certain treatments.
"And when we don't need it, we simply slide the artwork back into place and the room transforms back into what feels more like a warm and cozy living room," says Beito.
Warm colors, hardwood style flooring, and plush furniture make LifeCare's Infusion Therapy department feel like home to its growing list of patients.

Promising Future
From its beginning in 2004, the Infusion Therapy department has provided an invaluable service to LifeCare and its patients.
"The new space is reason enough to celebrate, but add to that the fact we are now able to see more patients and offer them the privacy and convenience of an all-inclusive department is a real pleasure for us," says Beito.
Considering the growing number of patients who want local treatment, plus the steady advancements in technology, "we are fortunate to be in a position to improve our services to meet the needs of our patients," says Fabian.
Already treating a steady list of patients, Infusion Therapy is poised to become the go-to place for additional patients as more and more decide local care is the choice for them.
"We've just gotten settled in this new location, so it's hard to think about what to expect five or ten years from now," Fabian says. "But with such great support from LifeCare, the physicians, and the loyalty of our patients I would say just about anything is possible."

Wall mounted artwork lifts to reveal an access panel containing oxygen and treatment related equipment.

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