Lois Harvey Miller Infusion Center-
Changes Through the Years
The Lois Harvey Miller Infusion Center has experienced remarkable growth and tremendous changes over the past fifteen years. The patient load has grown from 35 patients a week to 50 patients per day. The Center itself has been relocated three times and has tripled in size. The staff of oncologists and nurses has more than doubled. But one thing has remained constant throughout the seemingly never-ending change: the Center's dedication to patient care. Jane Conrad, RN, OCN, reinforces this commitment: "The patients always come first." Many of the changes in the Center reflect the willingness to accommodate the needs of the patients. As the patient load steadily increased, so did the need for space. Originally, the treatment space contained a five-chair treatment room. To serve the needs of the increased number of patients, the center relocated and added an additional five chairs. Although the ten-chair treatment room was adequate for some time, the number of patients continued to grow. The Center relocated again and added eight more chairs, bringing it to its current size and location. The Center now has two large infusion rooms and two private treatment rooms.
As the physical location changed, new treatments were developed and made available in the Infusion Center. "The improvements in anti-emetics have significantly impacted our patients," notes Pat Ash, RN, OCN. "The patients' quality of life has improved, and we have increased the quality of patient care."
Judy Feeney, RN, OCN, is quick to point out that there has been growth not only in treatment options, but also in outpatient care as a whole. "Society has adjusted to outpatient care. It's a new standard of care. Patients can now receive 8-10 hours of outpatient treatment as opposed to being admitted."
Due to the increased capacity of the Center, it is now able to provide a wide range of patient services including chemotherapy, IVIG transfusions for in vitro fertilization, preoperative antibiotics and blood product administration. The diverse treatment services require that an ample supply of medications be available at all times. To ensure that all products are readily available, an oncology pharmacist is housed within the Center to support the nurses and the patients.
The amenities for the patients have also changed to serve their needs. Since treatments vary in length and may last up to 8-10 hours, televisions are now available at each treatment station. This may help the patients to relax and remove some of the stress associated with receiving treatment.
To further accommodate the patient's needs and to increase their comfort level, the Center has also added: a call bell system; coffee service to the patient nutrition area; expanded patient areas to include a chemotherapy chair, supply cart and a patient visitor chair at every station; piped-in oxygen at each station; and two beds for patient comfort for extended stays.
One of the most noteworthy changes in the Infusion Center is the new patient education room. This room offers computer and Internet access to the patients. The room serves as a means to educate all patients on their disease and treatment. With continuing technological advances in treatment options and the trend towards outpatient care, it is certain that the Infusion Center will experience more growth in the coming years. It is also certain that the staff is up for the challenge.
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