Infusion Services

Physician talking to patient wearing a mask

If you have a chronic condition or are recovering from certain medical conditions, you may need to receive medications or nutrients in a form other than taking medications or supplements by mouth. Infusion therapy delivers medications, fluids or nutrients directly into the body, through an intravenous catheter. 

Johns Hopkins Care at Home makes infusion therapy more convenient with services that allow you to receive treatment in one of our infusion suites or in the comfort of your home. Our team focuses on providing attentive care that ensures a safe and effective experience.

To learn more or schedule an appointment:

Call Us: 410-288-8105

Our Services for Infusion Therapy 

Johns Hopkins Care at Home is committed to the safety and well-being of our patients. A team comprising pharmacists, nurses and customer service specialists are available 24/7 to answer questions and assist you with your infusion. Our team works closely with your provider to watch for any signs of concern during your care.

We treat a wide range of conditions with comprehensive services and treatments, including:

Medications  

  • Anti-infective therapies: Antibiotics, antivirals and antifungals, as infusions can treat severe infectious diseases due to bacteria, viruses and other causes. 
  • Anti-inflammatory and steroid therapies: These infusions treat a wide variety of chronic inflammatory conditions, such as HIV, lupus, psoriasis, myasthenia gravis and rheumatoid arthritis. 
  • Cancer treatments: People may need infusions of chemotherapy or immunotherapy for certain cancers. Colony-stimulating factor is a treatment to boost blood cell production in people who have had chemotherapy. 
  • Cardiovascular therapies: Some infused medications can manage heart disease, heart failure and high blood pressure. 
  • Pain medications: Infused medications can help manage severe, chronic pain that results from a health condition, injury or treatment, such as surgery. 
  • Post-transplant therapies: People who have received organ transplants need to take special medications, often by infusion, to prevent organ rejection.  
  • Treatments for bleeding disorders: Blood-clotting factor is one treatment that helps manage disorders that affect blood production and clotting. 

Nutritional support 

  • Enteral and parenteral nutrition: Certain conditions, such as some cancers or digestive disorders, make eating difficult. With enteral nutrition, you receive nutrients through a feeding tube. Total parenteral nutrition supplies nutrition through a catheter into a vein. 
  • Fluid and electrolyte replacement: Some conditions or medications can cause dehydration and loss of electrolytes (essential minerals). Infusions of fluid with electrolytes can replace these substances more quickly than taking them by mouth. 

Why Choose Johns Hopkins Care at Home Infusion Services?

Infusion services can help you stay independent and avoid the need for a stay in the hospital or skilled nursing facility. With infusion therapy at home or in an infusion suite, you can return to the activities you enjoy. With our infusion services, you can expect:

Experts in infusion therapy

Our infusion teams include pharmacists and nurses with specialty training in infusion medications and delivery. Our pharmacists have expertise in specific diseases and medications. Our nurses have advanced training in infusion therapy to administer IV medications and manage vascular access with catheters and ports. They’re also trained and certified in home infusion for oncology. Some team members are on the board and committees of national organizations, such as the National Home Infusion Association. You are in expert hands with our infusion specialists. 

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Convenient access to care

You may receive your infusions at home or at one of our three infusion suites across Baltimore. We provide home infusion services throughout Maryland, Washington, D.C., southern Pennsylvania and northern Virginia. Whether at home or in an infusion suite, you receive the same superb care from our highly trained nurses.

Integrated care

As part of your care team, our infusion specialists share the same, secure, electronic health record (EHR) with your Johns Hopkins Medicine providers for seamless care. Our nurses and pharmacists communicate regularly with your providers to adjust your treatment plan as you progress. 

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Advanced vascular access services

We’re one of the first home health teams in the country to offer a mobile team of nurses with additional training and certification in vascular access. These nurses use specialized technology to place central lines that are ready for immediate use. With our mobile vascular access team, you can have central catheters placed or replaced at home or in an infusion suite. 

Dedication to quality and safety

Our pharmacy has received accreditation from the Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (URAC). This designation shows our dedication to the highest national standards for safety and quality pharmacy services. Our infusion team has received accreditation from the Joint Commission, an organization whose recognition shows that our dedication to patient care meets or exceeds national standards for safety and quality.

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Your Home Infusion Visit: What to Expect 

Most often, you begin your infusion therapy after receiving treatment at a hospital. If you need ongoing treatment when you go home, your doctor may recommend infusion therapy. Here is what to expect from our home infusion services: 

  1. Discharge planning: Our infusion and home care experts work with your care team in the hospital to plan your transition home. We tailor your plan based on your medications, the dosing schedule and other factors. Our financial coordinators help you with the details of health insurance coverage, prior authorizations and other details.  
  2. Your first visit: One of our nurses calls you to help you prepare for your home visit. We send your medication to you, and arrange a nursing visit. The first visit is longer than others —usually two or more hours (Please note: this varies, as you may also receive a virtual visit between your hospital discharge and home visit.)   
  3. Receiving your medication: Your nurse will teach you and/or a caregiver how to deliver the medication. The goal is to make you as independent in your care as possible. Delivering the medication is not difficult, and the team will be with you through every step. 
  4. Training to help keep you safe: Your nurse helps you understand your medication and the basics of infusion therapy. The nurse also educates you about proper medication storage, including how to keep medicine away from children and pets. The nurse reviews possible medication side effects with you and what to do if you experience any. 
  5. Weekly visits and regular contact: You receive your medication every week, and, depending on your needs, your nurse visits at least once a week. During your visits, your nurse does a health evaluation and other assessments, as needed.  

Your Visit to Our Infusion Suite: What to Expect 

If you receive your infusions at one of our infusion suites, the planning is much the same. Here is what you can expect during your visits: 

  1. Arrival: When you arrive at an infusion suite, one of our nurses or front desk staff will greet you and check you in.  
  2. Your appointment: You can expect to be with us for two to eight hours, depending on your medication and length of the observation period afterward. During your visit, we provide heated infusion chairs, snacks and beverages and a soothing atmosphere for your treatment. 

Contact Us

To find out more about our infusion services at home or in our suites:

Call Us: 410-288-8105

 

Infusion Services: Resources for Patients 

Our team has gathered a wide variety of information for more details about home infusion services.  

For virtual appointments, you may be asked to use Microsoft Teams or Zoom. Find the appropriate PDF below for instructions: 

Joining a Virtual Meeting — Microsoft Teams
Joining a Virtual Meeting — Zoom 

Instructional Documents and Videos

Instructional Videos

Watch videos to learn how you can manage your infusion device at home.

Chemo Takedown: How-to Infuse Chemotherapy at Home

Watch this how-to instructional video to learn how to help you infuse chemotherapy at home.

How To Bathe with an IV line

Watch this how-to instructional video to learn how you can protect your IV line prior to bathing.

How to Infuse Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) at Home

Watch this how-to instructional video to learn how you can infuse total parenteral nutrition at home.

How To Perform Home Infusions with a Dial-a-Flow Device

Watch this how-to instructional video to learn how you can perform home infusions with a Dial-a-Flow device.

How To Perform Home Infusions with an Eclipse Ball Device

Watch this how-to instructional video to help you perform home infusions with an Eclipse Ball Device.

How To Perform Home Infusions with an Electronic Pump Device

Watch this how-to instructional video to learn how you can perform home infusions with an Electronic Pump device.

How To Perform Home Infusions with a Gravity Drip Device

Watch this how-to instructional video to learn how you can perform home infusions with a Gravity Drip device.

How To Perform Home Infusions with an Intravenous Push Device

Watch this how-to instructional video to learn how you can perform home infusions with an IV Push device.

How To Perform Home Infusions with a Mini-Bag Plus System Device

Watch this how-to instructional video to learn how you can perform home infusions with a Mini-Bag Plus System device.

Introduction to Home Infusion Therapy

Watch this video to learn about home infusion therapy.

Interpreter Services

If you have partial or total hearing loss or if English is not your primary language, we have access to trained, qualified medical interpreters who are proficient in more than 230 languages. Find out more about language services available through Johns Hopkins Medicine.