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Understanding
Infusion Therapy
LifeCare Medical Center
has provided Infusion Therapy for many
years.
Only recently, with the
completion of an interior remodeling
project, has this department found a home of
its own at the hospital. Run primarily by a
staff of three full time registered nurses,
Infusion Therapy has seen steady traffic and
a growing number of patients who welcome the
opportunity to receive treatment locally,
rather than travel more than 100 miles for
the same service. This installment of
HealthMatters Q&A explores some of the
basics of Infusion Therapy.
Q:
What is Infusion Therapy?
A:
An infusion is any medical treatment
delivered into the body by way of
a tube or drip line.
Medications are contained in a transparent
bag that slowly feeds into a tiny tube. The
tube leads into the body through the skin
and into a vein. Each medication or
treatment is dripped in at a different rate.
Q:
How are infusions typically administered?
A: A
standard IV line can be used for Infusion
Therapy, but patients who
require treatments more
frequently often have a port installed. A
port is a small medical appliance installed
beneath the skin with a catheter line
connecting it to a vein. This allows
medications or fluids to be injected and
blood samples drawn many times with
typically less discomfort for the patient
than frequent needle sticks.
Q:
What types of disease or condition are
treated by infusion?
A:
Cancer is the most common disease or
condition treated by infusion.
Other candidates for
infusion therapy include those with
gastrointestinal diseases, congestive heart
failure, Chrohnıs disease, hemophilia,
multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis,
immune deficiencies, renal disease, and
others.
Q:
One of the infusion therapies offered is
called a bladder instillation
treatment. What does
this treatment involve?
A:
According to the American Cancer Society,
more than 63,000 Americans
are diagnosed with
bladder cancer each year. Infusion therapy
is an integral part of treatment for these
patients. Treatment involves introducing a
live viral medication directly into the
bladder through a catheter. Once the
catheter is removed, the patient lays flat
on a bed for 15 minutes. The patients then
repositions from front to back, and left to
right allowing gravity to wash the infusion
over all areas of the bladder. The patient
is then sent home to repeat the process for
one more hour before passing the medication
out of their body.
Q:
Does the Infusion Therapy department at LifeCare provide more than
infusions?
A: Yes, the Infusion
Therapy department at LifeCare Medical
Center offers
several services in
addition to infusion treatment. Blood draws
for lab work are conducted here as well as a
long list of injections.
Q:
What is the difference between an infusion
and an injection?
A:
An infusion, as mentioned above, introduces
treatment into the
bloodstream by way of a
vein. An injection introduces treatment by
way of a needle into muscle. A subcutaneous
injection introduces medication by way of a
needle into the fatty tissue generally on
the back of the arm or the abdomen. Among
the long list of injections offered are
vitamin B12, Lupron, Aranesp, Procrit, and
many more.
To
learn more about receiving Infusion Therapy
treatment at LifeCare Medical Center, talk
to your healthcare provider.
Workshop to discuss living with chronic
conditions
Registration is
underway for a local workshop on living with
chronic conditions.
"Put Life Back Into
Your Life" is a six part workshop taught by
trained volunteers living with their own
health conditions.
The event includes six
2.5 hour sessions held once a week beginning
in mid-September and covers several aspects
of chronic conditions including how to find
needed support, ways of dealing with pain
and fatigue, better nutrition choices and
more.
Conditions such as
diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure,
heart disease, chronic pain, and anxiety
will be addressed.
The workshop is
sponsored by LifeCare Medical Center, the
Minnesota Department of Health and Area
Agency on Aging.
To register or request
more information call Colleen Klamar, R.N.,
Program Coordinator, at (218) 463-4751.
Space is limited, so
sign up today.
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