“The patients in need of infusion therapy often have a condition that is so severe it can’t be treated with oral medications, which can make traveling for care a burden,” said Eva Benedict, CEO at Jones Memorial, noting that chemotherapy should be available at Jones later this month. The infusion clinic is housed in a newly renovated area on the third floor at Jones. Other UR Medicine specialty clinics found on the third floor at Jones are cardiology, ENT, neurology, oncology, and endocrinology telemedicine.
The comfort of patients as well as those that accompany them to treatment was an important consideration when the infusion clinic was under construction. For patients, each of the six infusion stations has a spacious recliner with heat and massage, an individually controlled ceiling-mounted heat panel, personalized lighting, and individual televisions. The clinic also offers blankets, a nourishment station with soup and beverages, wireless internet, and USB ports to connect and charge electronic devices such as computers and cell phones and seating for companion.
Patients have been coming to Jones for infusion therapy since the clinic opened in early October. Kelli Empson of West Field, PA, was one of the first Wilmot Cancer Institute patients to receive care in Wellsville. “The entire atmosphere was very relaxing,” she said. “It is not easy to access to my veins, but the nurses helped me stay calm and relaxed while they found the perfect vein.” Kelli had a mild reaction to the medicine and the staff immediately called Dr. Picco for permission to treat it with Benadryl. “They also made sure to give me Benadryl before my next dose so that I did not have the same reaction,” she added. “I would definitely tell other patients that our Infusion Center is one of the best. They are a great team and made my four-hour treatment very comfortable.” The RNs in the infusion clinic are, in photo from left, Brianna Willson, Beth Cooke, and Amanda Elliott
The services provided at the Jones Memorial infusion site include red blood cell transfusions, platelet transfusions, chemotherapy, biologic therapy, coagulation factor infusions, fluid and electrolyte replacement, IV immune globulin infusion, iron infusions, therapeutic phlebotomy , TPA instillation, growth factor injections,erythropoietin injections, IV antibiotics, and mediport draws/flushes. All medications are prepared by the Jones Memorial Hospital pharmacy.
A few examples of conditions treated with IV infusion include: anemias, iron deficiency, hemochromatosis, polycythemia, thrombocytopenia, auto-immune thrombocytopenia purpura, migraine headaches, ankylosing spondylitis, Behcet's disease, cancer, common variable immunodeficiency, Crohn's disease, dermatomyositis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, iIritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, pemphigus, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, ulcerative colitis, and Wegener's granulomatosis.
If you have questions or need more information about the Infusion Clinic at Jones Memorial Hospital, please call the clinic at (585) 596-2059.
