Infusion Therapy

Outpatient Infusion Therapy at RCH

When: available as needed, 7 days/week
To schedule an appointment: call (641) 464-4427 or use the online RCH request an appointment form. Referrals can be faxed to (641) 464-4447.

Do you dread driving to the bigger cities to get your infusion treatments? Ringgold County Hospital provides infusion services ordered by your provider on an outpatient basis so you can get the treatment you need locally. This service is offered as a convenience for patients who require frequent infusions of medications, including those with central lines, maintenance therapy, or to eliminate the need for an inpatient hospital stay or emergency room visit. We offer a range of infusion therapies by intravenous infusion and intramuscular and subcutaneous injections including chemotherapy and supportive services, treatment for blood disorders, and intravenous antibiotics or treatments.

What Is Infusion Therapy?

Infusion therapy is a method of delivering medication directly into a patient’s bloodstream. This bypasses the digestive tract, which can take a while and may reduce the effectiveness of certain drugs. Infusion therapy offers the immediate distribution of medication and other fluids throughout the body and offers a more rapid effect than other forms of medication.

Types of Infusion Services

We offer a range of infusion therapies, depending on what your provider has ordered. Our infusion therapy services include:

Antibiotic therapy and traditional IV medications
Blood transfusions
Parenteral therapies, including intermittent pump regimens
Biotherapy services, including antibody and gammaglobulin therapies
Hydration therapy
Vascular access, device/port lab draws, and maintenance care
Central line lab draws and maintenance care
Patient education about infusions and/or injections

What to Expect

Your comfort is important to us, so our outpatient infusion therapy includes use of a private room with blankets, pillows, and meals (during regularly scheduled hours) to help keep you relaxed while undergoing your infusion therapy.

During your infusion therapy, you will be made comfortable and then a needle or catheter (thin, flexible tube) will be inserted into a vein in your arm – or into a port for patients with one – and secured with a tape to ensure it does not move around. Medication contained within an intravenous (IV) bag will then be released at a controlled pace directly into your bloodstream.

Who We Serve

Infusion therapy may be used for immediate hydration or other emergency care treatment when needed. Most often, however, outpatient infusion therapy at RCH is used to deliver chemotherapy and similar drugs for patients undergoing treatment for cancer.

Patients who are dehydrated, or who have complex infections, cancer, hemophilia, heart failure, and immune system deficiencies may benefit from outpatient infusion therapy at Ringgold County Hospital.