CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – One of the many ways BrightStar Care of Charlottesville helps its patients is by connecting them with services that can help them live their best lives.

A prime example is Sentara Infusion Services, which provides patients infusion therapy both at-home and at Sentara’s Ambulatory Suite. The therapy delivers medicine, nutrients and other fluids directly to the patient, bypassing the gut for more effective absorption.

“When they can’t get oral medication, or its ineffective or impossible, that’s when they go to infusion services,” Sentara’s Regional Infusion Business Development Rowena Campbell said.

 

Keeping the treatment at home

While the suite is an option, Campbell said it’s actually better for patients to receive the treatments at home as it does not disrupt their normal routines, can be done where they’re comfortable and is even cheaper for insurance purposes.

Account Executive Clinician Sarah Hines said she introduces each patient to the therapy by scheduling a “teach” with them, in which she will teach the patients how and when to administer the medications, as well as the extra support available through Sentara.

 

Preparing every patient

While some may feel apprehensive about taking their treatment into their own hands, Hines said Sentara provides patients with “everything they need to be successful.” This includes both supplies and education. She said she goes through the education with each patient in a through manner until they can teach it back to her, and she won’t leave until their comfortable providing themselves their care.

Campbell described the process as “very collaborative,” starting with the required referral from a physician’s office need to receive the treatment. From there, Sentara’s intake team, nutrition team and pharmacists will talk with the patients. Sentara will also provide 24/7 support through the phone, ensuring each patient is just one dial away from support.

 

Empowering people

BrightStar Chief Operations Officer Malina Rivers said they love partnering with Sentara Infusion Services, because they’re all about their patients living their best lives where they’re at. She said Sentara “empowers” their patients by teaching them how to administer the treatment themselves and allowing them to do it on their own.

She said this leads to increased compliance, and also said it is a “gamechanger” for pediatric clients as they can receive the treatment surrounded by their siblings, favorite toys and cartoons or even have the apparatus in a backpack so they can go out and play.

“When Sentara Infusion Services brings that service to you where you’re at, like Sarah will do, and educate you and empowers you, all of a sudden your outcomes are so much better, so we love partnering with them,” Rivers said.