Exploring home infusions
Convenient solutions for patients who may not be able to travel
Home infusions may be an option for certain patients. Important considerations include:
- Individual circumstances
- Ability to tolerate home treatment
- Insurance and whether or not home infusion is covered. (Some private insurance plans and state Medicaid programs do not cover home infusions.)
The difference in home infusions
Other than location, home infusions offer patients a similar experience to infusions in the hospital or clinic. There are 2 important differences with home infusion. The first is that a nurse comes to the home to administer the treatment and monitor the patient in a home setting. The second is that NAGLAZYME gets shipped directly to the patient’s home from a specialty pharmacy. This requires vigilance both on the part of the healthcare team and the patient to ensure that:
- NAGLAZYME is properly stored in the refrigerator before use
- Patients understand that they need to inform the home infusion nurse of any side effects experienced during the infusion, including:
- Itching or hives
- Swelling on the face or hands
- Swelling, tingling in mouth or throat
- Tightness in the chest
- Difficulty breathing
- Feeling very drowsy or sleepy
- Fever or chills
- Lightheadedness or fainting
- Any other side effects they feel might be caused by the medications
Help patients prepare
You can help patients prepare for NAGLAZYME home infusions by:
- Informing them to warm the medication to room temperature before their appointment. NAGLAZYME should be removed from the refrigerator 30 to 60 minutes before the infusion nurse is scheduled to arrive
- Advising them that the nurse will check their vital signs before starting the infusion and possibly use an antihistamine or fever reducer to prevent allergic reactions. It is critical that they inform the nurse of any illnesses or changes in health status that might warrant a delay in their weekly infusion
- Educating them on what to expect during an infusion
- Informing them that the nurse may wait for a short period of time after removing the IV line just to ensure that there are no delayed reactions
Working closely with the home infusion agency to ensure a smooth transition
Next: BioMarin Patient and Physician Support