HOME INFUSION FAQ’S

Home infusion is safe, comfortable, and convenient making it a preferred method of therapy for those looking to recover at home especially after a major medical event or have compromised immune systems.

Another benefit of home infusion is the ability for our patients to return to their normal daily activities. For many, this means returning to work, caring for family members or going on vacation. Many insurance companies consider home infusion a more cost-efficient therapy than receiving infusions in a hospital or clinic therefore lowering the patient’s financial responsibility.

Patients that are prescribed extended intravenous therapy are given choices to obtain it from an infusion center or a home infusion pharmacy, that’s us. The patient is referred to the pharmacy by the nurse discharge planner, social worker, or possibly the healthcare provider to receive home infusion. Patients can also inquire directly for home infusion prompting us to begin working with your provider to achieve a successful transition to home.

Vital Care of Shreveport is a local home infusion pharmacy. It is our responsibility to prepare your medication in a sterile environment, called clean rooms, dispense all necessary supplies needed for administration of your medication, dispose of medical waste and provide professional nursing and pharmacy consultation on the use and monitoring of the medications prescribed by your physician.

Home infusion therapy is initiated by a prescription from a healthcare provider overseeing a patient’s care. Home infusion therapy involves the administration of medication in a patient’s home, by a trained nurse, patient, or family/friends. We provide all necessary supplies and educational materials needed for your type of infusion therapy, such as administration set, IV site dressings, flushes, connectors and etc. Our staff coordinates care with a local home health agency to provide you patient education and nursing care in your home. Our staff routinely follows up with you and the home health agency, by telephone, to determine that you understand your therapy, how effective it is being, if more supplies are needed, and if there are any changes that we need to be made aware.

The vast majority of commercial insurance companies cover home infusion services including the medications, clinical monitoring, and nursing visits. Your benefits will be explained to you prior to starting any services in the home.

Medicare covers some home infusion therapies and are considered on a case by case basis.

Vital Care’s delivery specialist will hand deliver your medications and supplies to you. If you will not be available to accept a delivery we can make arrangements to deliver it early, prepare it for pick up or deliver it to an individual authorized by you the patient.

No, upon receipt of a patient we add them into our weekly calendar with dictations as to when and what needs to be delivered. The frequency of the delivery will depend on the type of therapy being received. When preparing your delivery our experienced team will determine how much medication and supplies you will need until your next delivery. However, please feel free to contact us if you need extra supplies or if you are wondering when you are scheduled for your next delivery.

Please notify us as soon as possible if any of the following occur:

• You have to waste a dose of medication due to leakage, contamination of the sterile port or for any other reason. That way we can adjust the date of your next delivery.
• Your doctor informs you he is changing your medication, strength or frequency. Then we can contact your physician to follow up on your orders and make sure we have the most current one.
• Your doctor tells you that your therapy is complete.
• Your IV access is removed, replaced or a different access is inserted.
• You are being admitted to the hospital.
• You will be out of any of your supplies before your next scheduled delivery. We anticipate the amount of supplies needed based on type of therapy, frequency of dose and etc., however a situation may arise were you are required to use more supplies than anticipated. Also advise us if you are not using all supplies sent so that quantities can be adjusted.

In most situations a nurse from a local home health agency will come to your home and train the individual giving the medication on the proper technique and system for administration. A nurse will always be available if a situation occurs, however most patients can be taught to administer medication safely and effectively.

If you have a question or a problem, concerning your infusion please call us at 601.482.4003. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM. If you are calling after normal business hours, there will be either a nurse or pharmacist on call. Simply leave your information with our answering service and they will promptly page someone to call you.

When your doctor informs you that your infusion therapy is complete, please contact us so we can follow up with your physician. Your doctor may discontinue your infusion therapy but leave your IV access in place in the event that you need to be started back on therapy. In these situations your IV access will still need to be flushed and redressed. We will continue to provide you with the necessary supplies for you IV maintenance.

Upon completion of your therapy and removal of your IV access we will make arrangements to pick up remaining equipment and supplies. We will also collect any sharp containers or medical waste related to your therapy.