The fastest way to deliver fluids throughout the body is by intravenous therapy or iv infusion therapy. In this type of therapy, the fluids are directly given into the vein. The fluids which may be infused are blood based products, blood substitutes and medications.
Blood based products are used for blood transfusion. Using any component of blood from a donor, the common use of blood transfusion is to replace blood loss.
IV infusion therapy use volume expanders as blood substitutes. Volume expanders may be solutions of mineral salts, water soluble molecules or larger insoluble molecules which are alternative blood based products. IV infusion of medications may be done by mixing other fluids
Another use for iv therapy is for parenteral nutrition which is a means to feed an individual. With the use of iv infusion therapy, a person can receive the nutritional formulas which he needs.
A parenteral nutrition (PN) procedure is indicated when there are gastrointestinal tract concerns or when oral diets can’t provide the daily required nutrition of an individual. The procedure should not be performed if it will only last for a week. Hospitals and establishments for home health solutions allow the participation of medical staff, dieticians, pharmacists and registered nurses in the PN procedure.
The medical staff is responsible in nominating whether the patient requires PN procedure and maintains the clinical progress of the patient. Dieticians make the nutritional assessment and monitor the nutritional progress of the patient. The pharmacists advise the PN formulation. And whenever necessary, they order and prepare the solutions for the prescription.
Centers for home health solutions require competent and skilled nurses which administer the PN procedure because of the risks involved. The insertion of central venous catheter (CVC) is one. Nurses are also responsible to advise the dietician and pharmacist about any allergic reaction which the patient may experience. The nurses must monitor the blood glucose to make sure that parenteral nutrition should be withdrawn due to hypoglycemia.
Providers of home health solutions know all these risks which are the reasons why they require full disclosure of the medical situation of a patient. Providers of home health solutions may also conduct physical assessment of the case to make sure that they are provided with correct information and that they may provide the right service needed by the patient.
IV infusion therapy in PN procedure connects the CVC to a large vein. This is why administering this therapy require full knowledge and wide experience on the procedure.