To anyone who is responsible for subcutaneous infusions, especially in an outpatient setting - Do you use ambulatory pumps for these infusions? What are your concerns about these infusions? Which pump do you prefer and what makes it better for your needs? Do nurses change the cassettes or do you teach the patient to do it? What meds do you find are the most frequent for SC infusion through these pumps? All feedback is welcome. Thanks, Lynn
Carol Sweeney, CRNI, Vice President of Nursing & Clinical Compliance ContinuumRx
We (home care/home infusion) use the Curlin pump for most sub q infusions (pain management - Morphine, Dilaudid) and Desferol.
And we use the Freedom 60 for the Vivaglobin patients
The pain management patients are generally hospice and the home care/hopisce nurse manages the site changes, bag changes, etc
The Desferol patients sometimes are taught to do their own infusions (if a long term patient) or the home care nurse manages.
The Vivaglobin patients become independant after a few visits and manage their own infusions from start to finish.
The best pump depends on the therapy the patient ordered and for some therapies (like Desferol and Vivaglobin) the patient and caregiver
The big concerns have to do with the pain management patients with manipulation of the pump even when locked
Ann Marie Parry RN CRNI
[email protected]
Ann Marie Parry, RN, CRNI, VA-BC
[email protected]