In-Office vs. Hospital Infusions: Why In-Office is Better for Your Patients
Treating chronic disease patients is an ongoing challenge for most physicians, from delivering a diagnosis, explaining their disease progression and treatment alternatives, to helping patients cope with the emotional and psychological effects of living with a chronic disease.
Caring for patients who require infusion therapy adds to the existing challenges, as in many cases, you will need to refer your patients to a hospital outpatient infusion center, which creates a care void.
There is a critical need for comprehensive solutions to help physicians close the care gap to improve treatment outcomes.
In-office infusion suites are an excellent way to improve patient care and long-term treatment outcomes since they provide you with an opportunity to directly oversee your patient’s progress over time.
Watch the Video: In-Office vs. Hospital Infusions: Why In-Office is Better for Your Patients
In-Office Infusion Treatment vs. Hospital Infusion Centers
Let us discuss in-office vs. hospital infusions. Infusion therapy is a viable alternative for patients who haven’t responded well to conventional medications.
This type of therapy provides faster symptom relief with fewer adverse side effects, thus offering significant benefits to patients in need.
However, infusion therapy requires specialized equipment and medical personnel, which up until recently, were only available in hospital infusion centers. The good news is that in-office biologics management companies are making it easier and more affordable for physicians to provide infusion therapies in their existing practice.
Hospital Infusion Therapy Centers
For many years, only hospitals administered intravenous medications.
For a patient to receive treatment at a hospital, they need a referral and prescription from their doctor. Then they need to be scheduled an appointment, which can take awhile at busy hospitals.
Since not all hospitals have a dedicated outpatient infusion center, some patients must travel long distances to get their treatments.
For most patients, the experience of going to the hospital to receive their infusion therapy can be intimidating and uncomfortable.
Typically, a hospital infusion center does little to boost a patient’s morale. These centers usually care for many patients, leaving little room for personalized attention from the medical staff. Treatments at these facilities can also represent a significant expense, both for the patient and their insurance.
In-Office Infusion Suites
Patients who need regular infusion therapy can feel disheartened and inconvenienced when they have no option but to go to a hospital to receive their treatment.
The emotional, physical, and financial burden is too much for some patients, and they may end up abandoning their treatments, making it difficult for you to properly care for them.
The creation of in-office infusion suites is the perfect solution to narrow the care gap, regain control of your patient’s disease management, and improve patient outcomes.
By having an in-office infusion suite within your existing practice, you can provide your patients:
- A convenient location
- A familiar, warm, and inviting environment
- The same quality biologic drugs as a hospital infusion center at a more affordable price
- Personalized care
- Shorter wait times
The Bottom Line
Having an in-office infusion suite will allow you to treat your patients from the initial consult through the end of therapy.
You will build a more robust patient-doctor relationship and be able to closely monitor and adjust your patient’s treatments every step of the way.
In addition to providing better care, in-office infusion suites provide incredible growth opportunities for your practice.
Contact one of our account managers today to learn more about how Altus Biologics can help you set up and manage your infusion center.
