In recent years, the home has expanded its role. Though people are moving about freely since the pandemic, many still prefer to work remotely, have groceries and takeout delivered, and do more from the location of their choosing. There’s no place like home, and with medical care, there’s no exception.
For many needing regular infusions, choosing home as their site of care is a convenient and comfortable option. Research indicates home infusion as a safe method of receiving immunoglobulin (IG) therapy for primary immunodeficiencies, autoimmune neuropathies, and a wide range of other acute and chronic conditions.1,2,3 For some home infusion patients, like those with hemophilia, studies have shown clinical outcomes to be better with a 40% (0.50-0.70) reduced likelihood of hospitalization for bleeding complications.4
Additional benefits to home infusion include:- Less risk of infection. Hospitals and infusion centers can take every precaution available, yet in these environments patients still have the potential for exposure to bacteria or viruses they would likely not encounter in their homes.
- Cost savings. Home infusion reduces the burden on costlier sites of care, saving money for both patients and payers.5
- Patient well being.. Patients report significantly better physical and mental well being with less disruption to daily activities, overwhelmingly prefering home infusion.4
BioMatrix Specialty Pharmacy partners with outpatient hospitals and Ambulatory Infusion Centers (AIC) to coordinate home infusion services for patients. Our home infusion services:
Promote positive health outcomes and cost savings
Alleviate provider burden and promote timely access to care by facilitating prior authorizations, financial assistance, and appeals
Provide transfer-of-care support for patients with narrow or carved out specialty pharmacy networks by initiating a warm transfer to an in-network provider of your choice
Ensure patient safety and minimize adverse reactions by remaining with the patient for at least 30 minutes after therapy administration
Connect the patient to third-party resources reducing financial barriers to care
Provide nationwide home nursing support, including rural areas
Include therapeutically-focused clinical assessments and targeted interventions meeting the specific clinical and psychosocial needs of every patient
BioMatrix’s focus on safety begins well before the patient is infused with their first dose of medication in the home.
Our nursing and pharmacy teams work hand in hand at every step of the patient journey. This includes our efforts around home infusion services. To support our patients across the country, BioMatrix has contracted with over 200 Nursing agencies nationwide. We continually bring new agencies into the fold. Each agency is thoroughly vetted to ensure that they meet our rigorous standards and are knowledgeable regarding the Infusion Nurses Society guidelines for infusion therapy in the home.
Just as the nursing agencies we contract with are thoroughly vetted, so too are the individual home infusion nurses. Every home infusion nurse assigned to enter a patient’s home is required to meet (over the phone or virtually) with our nurse clinicians prior to providing service. Our nurses evaluate the infusion RN’s level of competency to provide the care ordered. If further education or training is needed this is arranged and completed before the start of care. Prescribed therapy is reviewed in detail to make sure the appropriate protocols are followed and the services provided are safe and seamless. If at any time our nurse clinicians determine that a particular home infusion nurse does not meet the standard of competency that we at BioMatrix strive for, we re-group and re-staff the case with an alternate home infusion nurse.
When entering a patient’s home, the home infusion nurses we work with follow all standard precautions and wear appropriate personal protective equipment. They also take the time to identify and review safety measures the patient can follow in the home both during and after infusion. Working together our team helps patients mitigate any issues to establish a safe environment for home infusion.
If you are a provider, consider referring patients who…
• Are at high risk for infection
• Repeatedly miss appointments or need assistance with therapy adherence
• Have transportation challenges
• Have a complex work or personal schedule
Watch our video here to learn more about our home infusion services.
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References
1. Le Masson G, Solé G, Desnuelle C, et al. (2018). Home versus hospital immunoglobulin treatment for autoimmune neuropathies: a cost minimization analysis. Brain Behav. 2018;8(2):e00923. doi: 10.1002/brb3.923
2. Luthra R, Quimbo R, Iyer R, Luo M. (2014). An analysis of intravenous immunoglobin site of care: home versus outpatient hospital. Am J Pharm Benefits. 2014;6(2):e41-e49.
3. Schmidt R. (2012). Home Infusion Therapy: Safety, Efficacy, and Cost-Savings. PSQH. https://www.psqh.com/analysis/home-infusion-therapy-safety-efficacy-and-cost-savings/
4. Polinski J, Kowal M, Gagnon M, Brennan T, Shrank W. (2016). Home infusion: Safe, clinically effective, patient preferred, and cost saving. NIH. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28668202/
5. Home Infusion Creates Savings for Patients, Taxpayers. NHIA. https://nhia.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Home_Infusion_Creates_Savings_for_Patients_Taxpayers.pdf
