Reducing home nursing visit costs using a remote access infusion pump system.

Abstract

The use of a remote access infusion pump system in patients receiving intravenous therapy in the home provided a method to monitor patients and to reduce the number of unscheduled and after-hours nursing visits. Option Care of Rockwall, Texas, a locally owned IV company that is part of a national network, was able to avoid 13 nursing visits during a 4-month period with patients receiving pain management or continuous heparin therapy with the use of an infusion pump system that allowed remote access by telephone. An appreciable cost savings was documented with the use of this device.