It’s easy to see why so many patients who qualify for safe treatments in their home prefer that route than going to an infusion center. Let’s first look at the latter. Patients who are getting their treatments at a hospital or outpatient infusion center have to drive all the way there, check in, and possibly have bloodwork or lab work. They then have to wait for the labs to come back, and only then start the infusion. After that, depending on how busy the pharmacy is, they may have to wait again for the pharmacy team to compound their medication. Patients then receive the infusion, wait for the infusion time duration and when that’s finally done, they may have to wait further for an observation period. Then, it’s back to parking, hitting the road and finally arriving home.
Let’s also remember that during COVID times the patient in the hospital or infusion center could be near other patients – which is far from ideal. In an era where personal time, space and convenience are the hallmarks of individualism, the infusion center route is just too lengthy, cumbersome, and impersonal if the therapy is appropriate to be given inside the home.