How technology can improve the home infusion experience

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Home infusion therapy in the U.S. is poised for major growth. In fact, one estimate projects the market to grow from almost $17 billion in 2023 to more than $32.5 billion in 2033.*

While growth is welcome, there are challenges that need to be addressed for home infusion providers to effectively manage their businesses, from complex processes to documentation requirements. The key to maintaining high service standards and safeguarding patient safety is effective allocation of staffing resources.

Using technology to foster more effective communication and collaboration will continue to be essential for successful home infusion providers. New tools are being introduced that can help manage several manual, time-consuming tasks while helping providers manage documentation, coordinate with multiple stakeholders, track inventory and speed up reimbursement. Here are some ways using technology tools can benefit home infusion patients and staff.

Patient benefits

Tools such as real-time messaging and video calls enable fast and convenient communication between patients and home infusion staff. When patients have questions or concerns about their therapy, it’s important for them to get answers as quickly as possible. These tools can make sure help is readily available, so they can feel more confident and engaged in their treatment.

Easy access to educational information, either online or via a mobile app, helps patients better understand their treatment regimens, side effects, and self-care techniques, which ultimately helps improve adherence.

Staff benefits

Communication technology can streamline coordination among the entire care team, with real-time updates on a patient’s status and treatment plan. Tools that allow easy sharing of information about medication changes or patient progress help make sure everyone is on the same page. This kind of collaboration also helps reduce the risk of errors and enhances overall care quality.

Tools that support ongoing communication, such as messaging apps, help staff stay in regular contact with patients and offer an easy way to answer questions and provide support. When patients know they can easily reach a care team member, it helps build trust and rapport, which in turn supports better patient adherence to treatment plans, and ultimately, better outcomes.

The latest technology also enables seamless communication between your home infusion staff and other specialists involved in a patient’s care. Collaboration with the broader team helps make sure all aspects of a patient’s treatment are aligned and ensures that any concerns are addressed quickly.

Tools to support a better home infusion experience

CitusHealth offers a range of tools that can help everyone involved in a patient’s journey communicate more effectively and easily. New digital tools mean that providers can deliver better quality care. For example:

Direct secure messaging allows care team, patients and family caregivers to communicate securely, in real time. Now there’s no need to play phone tag or figure out how to reach the right care team member. CitusHealth lets care teams engage directly with those they serve, boosting productivity for staff and satisfaction for patients and their families.

Our video chat feature gives staff and patients a way to connect face-to-face for conversations that don’t require an in-person visit. Video chat is a convenient way to have personal interactions between visits to answer questions or address concerns.

Digital documents and forms in CitusHealth mean that users no longer need to chase signatures on paper and scan them into an EHR, eliminating the need for paper-based workflows.

Patients and their families can opt to use a mobile app or our app-less system through a secure link they can use on most devices. They can conveniently contact care team members, receive forms, electronically sign documents, access education materials or participate in a video chat.

Home infusion providers are finding that these technology tools are making a difference for their business.

“Seeing the simplicity of the platform and how it enables us to communicate with so many different patients was truly eye-opening for me,” said Dr. James Markis, PharmD and Senior Vice President of Pharmacy Operations at Care Fusion Rx.

“During our evaluation process, it was clear that the CitusHealth solution would solve many of the care coordination and patient engagement challenges we face,” said Erica Smith, Director of Nursing at Intramed Plus. “We were highly impressed with the level of expertise the team has, which was evident not only in our conversations, but also in the impressive design of the solution.”

 

With CitusHealth, patients get information and engagement when they need it, ultimately allowing connections across the care team that support the best care for the patient. Find out how technology like CitusHealth can improve the home infusion experience for your staff and your patients.

*https://www.towardshealthcare.com/insights/us-home-infusion-therapy-market-size