Home Intravenous Therapy Team - Introduction. An information guide

Transcription

1 TO PROVIDE THE VERY BEST CARE FOR EACH PATIENT ON EVERY OCCASION Home Intravenous Therapy Team - Introduction An information guide

2 Home Intravenous Therapy Team - Introduction If you only need to be in hospital for intravenous therapy and do not need to be in hospital for any other reason you can be offered an early discharge by having your intravenous (IV) therapy at home. The term intravenous (IV) is used when medication is given into a vein. Also, depending on circumstances, some patients do not need to be admitted to hospital before starting IV therapy at home. Home intravenous therapy team is the official name given to the home IV therapy team. You will see this abbreviated to HITT at times. The HITT team consists of specialist nurses who work closely with the doctors and pharmacists. There are advantages and disadvantages of both hospital and home IV therapy. These are detailed below. If you stay in hospital you will remain there until your treatment is completed. Advantages: it allows you to be constantly assessed the effects of your treatment can be easily monitored. Disadvantages you will have to stay in hospital for the time you need treatment possible loss of your independence unable to attend work separation from family and friends travelling expenses for visitors. 2

3 If a nurse gives the medication in your home This involves a nurse visiting your home to give the IV medication you require. The nurse will try to visit you at a time that is suitable to you both. Written and verbal information will be given to you and 24 hour help and advice is always available (contact numbers will be given before discharge). Advantages you will not have to stay in hospital independence is maintained and you may be able to return to work. There is little travelling time or expense involved 24 hour help is available a nurse will review you at the time of treatment you will be reviewed at Multi disciplinary team (MDT) once each week. Disadvantages you will have to learn about some aspects of your IV line you will have to learn a little about your medication and possible side effects depending on the nurses workload, the time they visit you may vary slightly on a daily basis at weekends and on bank holidays it may be less easy to arrange treatment times compared to hospital inpatient care there are fewer medical staff reviews. 3

4 Patients giving their own medication at home Occasionally a patient may want to give his or her own medication at home. This is usually only suitable when more than 2 weeks of treatment are required. It involves you or your carer being taught how to look after your line, how to store your medication, learn about possible side effects, medication preparation and administration. You must always have another person with you when having your medicine, in case of side effects. If this is the best way for you to get your medication, you will be taught in hospital and supervised until both you and the home IV therapy nurse are happy for you to continue on your own. A nurse will visit weekly to change the dressing over your line. Written and verbal information will be given to you and 24 hour help and advice is always available (contact numbers will be given before discharge). Advantages you will not need to stay in hospital after you are trained independence is maintained and you may be able to return to work there is little travelling time or expense involved 24 hour help is available there is no waiting for a nurse to administer the medication you will be reviewed at MDT once each week you will be visited weekly by a nurse. 4

5 Disadvantages you will have to learn about some aspects of your IV line you will have to learn about your medication and possible sideeffects training is time consuming compared to hospital inpatient care there are fewer medical staff reviews. What happens now? You will have time to look at the information you have been given before you decide whether you would like to have your IV medication at home. The HITT team who arrange IV therapy in the community will visit you. A discussion with you and your doctors about your health needs, home circumstances and support available will take place to decide if home IV therapy is suitable for you. The HITT team will discuss options available with you to develop a plan that fits your needs. You will be able to ask the HITT team any questions about the service. You may wish to make notes of questions as you think of them. After reading this information and discussing with the HITT therapy team ways of giving your medication, you may decide not to go home with your IV therapy. You will then need to stay in hospital and finish the course prescribed. It should be noted that not every patient will be able to have IV therapy at home. The HITT team will discuss options with you to find the most suitable and convenient way of giving your treatment. 5

6 Contact details: North Manchester Team: Phone: Fax: Team: Heywood, Middleton & Rochdale Team: Hospital switchboard: (ask for the home IV Team) Dury phone 1: Duty phone 2:

7 References: Infection control and intravenous therapy in patients in the community Higginson R, British Journal of Community Nursing, July 2010, vol./is. 15/7; (318, 320, 322, 324) Home intravenous therapy and the ability to perform self-care activities of daily living O'Halloran L, El-Masri MM, Fox-Wasylyshyn SM, Journal of Infusion Nursing, November 2008, vol./is. 31/6; (367-74) 7

8 If English is not your frst language and you need help, please contact the Ethnic Health Team on Jeżeli angielski nie jest twoim pierwszym językiem i potrzebujesz pomocy proszę skontaktować się z załogą Ethnic Health pod numerem telefonu For general enquiries please contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on For enquiries regarding clinic appointments, clinical care and treatment please contact and the Switchboard Operator will put you through to the correct department / service Date of publication: September 2015 Date of review: January 2018 Date of next review: January 2020 Ref: PI (CIC) 956 The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust Wood pulp sourced from sustainable forests