Home Infusion and Alternative-Site Health Care: The Big Picture
Author(s): Lima Hetty A
Issue: Sep/Oct 1997 - Home Health Care
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Page(s): 294-297
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Abstract: The mid/late 1970s saw the birth of home infusion, with total parenteral nutrition therapy being provided on an outpatient basis to individuals with Crohn’s disease and other chronic gastrointestinal disorders. The types of home-care/alternate-site services have expanded to include pharmaceutical services, skilled nursing services, semiskilled nursing services, custodial care, home respiratory therapy/durable home medical equipment and hospice care. In this article, the author provides a market overview and discusses key trends fueling home-care growth (demographics, technology and managed care), home infusion providers, regulation and sterile-products compounding. Tables provide information on growth projections for home infusion therapy patients and factors effecting change within the home infusion industry. As the home-care infusion/alternate-site market continues to grow, home-care pharmacists will need to continue to refine and assess their clinical skills, as well as their aseptic compounding methods, to better meet the challenges of caring for larger numbers of acutely ill patients in the home-care setting.