Kootenai | Kootenai Health | Issue 1, 2020

KH . ORG 5 Get dedicated care If you are interested in receiving your infusion services at Kootenai Health, talk with your doctor or another member of your care team. By Andrea Nagel Kootenai Health has historically provided outpatient infusion services, such as IV antibiotics and blood transfusions, in the Specialty Procedures Area. Specialty Procedures has five infusion chairs and three procedure rooms. However, need has outgrown capacity, and many patients have had to leave the community for timely infusion services. With no real options for expansion in the Specialty Procedures’ location, creating a new unit and relocating infusion services there was the best solution. Now, infusion patients receiving these important treatments have their own dedicated space. Access andamenities Located on the south side of the hospital, above Kootenai’s Heart Center, Kootenai Health Infusion Services has a total of 10 infusion chairs—doubling what was previously available—all surrounding a central nurses’ station. Being on the third floor gives the space natural light, and each chair has its own TV to help patients pass the time. For convenience, the department is open seven days a week—an improvement over the previously offered five days a week. Patients requiring outpatient infusion services can also take advantage of free valet parking. The unit also features nurses trained specifically for the treatments and medications being administered and a pharmacist to answer questions and ensure accurate dosing. “Relocating infusion services also provides additional space in the Specialty Procedures Area so needed procedures can be done more timely and offered at more convenient times,” said Stephanie Kelley, RN, Infusion Services nursing manager. Having expanded infusion services makes it possible for patients to be discharged from the hospital sooner, as the follow-up services can be done on an outpatient basis. “Outpatient infusion services are ideal for those patients who are stable enough to return home but may still need some medications delivered via IV,” Stephanie said. “Before these services were offered, those patients may have had to stay in the hospital longer, simply because they required these special medications or treatments. We’re very fortunate to be able to offer these services to our patients.” I N F U S I O N S E R V I C E S Gets an Upgrade A new, expanded unit provides greater comfort and convenience for patients Infusion Services employees celebrate the grand opening of their new unit. From left: Elizabeth Hansen, RN; Kourtney Hayden, RN; Nancy Clough, RN; Desiree Poffenroth, outpatient services coordinator; Stephanie Kelley, nurse manager; Lori Jackson, RN; Julia Merrill, RN; and Jessica Mort, RN.