Infusion Therapy
To treat some diseases, including many forms of cancer, the most efficient way to get certain medications into your system is with infusion therapy. This type of treatment sends medicine directly into your veins or soft tissues.
At Astera Health, our team provides infusion therapy with skill and compassion in a comfortable setting, allowing Central Minnesota patients to access this important treatment without traveling far from home.
How infusion therapy works
Also known as intravenous (IV) therapy, infusion therapy involves using a needle or catheter to administer a medication directly into a vein or another part of the body. IV chemotherapy to treat cancer is one of the most well-known types of infusion therapy. Other types include epidural infusions, in which medication is injected near the spinal cord, and subcutaneous infusions, which involve sending medication into tissue just below the skin. With intramuscular infusions, the medicine enters a muscle.
Infusion therapy may be right for you if your medical provider determines it’s the most effective way to administer a medication you need, or if you can’t take medications by mouth.
Conditions we treat
At Astera, our infusion therapy team provides IV infusions to treat many diseases and conditions, including:
- Cancer
- Crohn’s disease
- Dehydration
- Infections requiring daily antibiotics
- Iron-deficiency anemia
- Low blood counts requiring a blood transfusion
- Migraines
- Multiple sclerosis
- Osteomyelitis
- Osteoporosis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Ulcerative colitis
We provide specialty injections for asthma, bone support, cancer, hormone therapy, and neutropenia. Additional services our team offers include:
- Blood draws from ports or peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) lines
- Complex wound vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) dressing changes
- Dressing changes for difficult-to-reach wounds
- Flushing of port-a-caths and PICC lines
- Therapeutic phlebotomy—a type of blood draw
- Thoracentesis—a procedure that uses a needle to remove fluid near the lungs
- Weekly PICC line dressing changes
The benefits of local infusion therapy
Depending on the disease and type of infusion, you may need treatment daily, weekly, monthly, or annually. Having to travel far from home and your network of support can be stressful, time-consuming, and costly. Astera is proud to offer our friends and neighbors convenient infusion services in the region they call home.
Seeing a specialist in another part of the state? You can receive infusion therapy at Astera. We’ll coordinate with the specialist or family medicine provider who orders your treatment so you can focus on healing.
What to expect
All you need to do is show up for your infusion appointment, and our team will take care of the rest. How long the infusion takes depends on the type of treatment. If your infusion is expected to take hours, you may want to bring snacks and a book, magazine, or tablet. Your treatment bay will include a large TV.
Our treatment bays are private and feature reclining chairs with integrated heat. You can read, watch TV, use your phone or tablet, or nap while receiving infusion. A registered nurse will deliver your treatment.
Often, patients can drive themselves home after infusion therapy, but be sure to arrange for someone to give you a lift if your medical provider advises against driving yourself.
At home, watch for signs of infection at the injection site, such as redness or swelling, as well as side effects from the administered medications. Tell your medical provider right away if you experience symptoms of infection or side effects of treatment.
Looking for a local option for infusion therapy? We’re here for you. To connect with the Astera infusion therapy department, call 218-631-3510.