If you are at the helm of a rural hospital or involved in its operations, the unique challenges of rural healthcare are no strangers to you. These challenges are often multipronged and have competing priorities: budget constraints, limited staffing, aging infrastructure, and, of course, geographical isolation. The convergence of these factors can often make quality healthcare a herculean task. If the stakes seem high, it is because they are. Rural communities often suffer from decreased access to care, making the need for efficient healthcare systems even more acute.
The Promise of Infusion Services
Outsourcing your Infusion services is an evolving solution that could serve as a cornerstone for medical treatments in your rural hospital. Chances are you are already doing infusions, but more as an afterthought. You are working around staff availability when your staff are already overworked. You are sending patients to urban hospitals miles away when you cannot schedule them locally. Imagine streamlining medical administration, enhancing patient safety, and conserving precious manpower while generating revenue simultaneously. All this is not a dream for some distant future; it is a tangible, achievable reality today. Intrigued? You should be. We have been collecting data and implementing these solutions for more than a decade and the idea that you can turn this burdensome treatment into a winning solution is very real.
What is Infusion?
Infusion is a technology that has increasingly become the backbone of medical treatments across well-funded urban hospitals. But what exactly is it? In simplest terms, an infusion system is a device or set of devices that administer fluids, including nutrients and medications, directly into a patient's bloodstream. This is not about just sticking a needle and injecting fluids; it is about precise control, measured delivery, and minute-by-minute customization to fit patient needs. Imagine a system that could deliver the right dosage at the right time, every single time. You often do this service and only get paid for the medication because you do not have time to get a pre-authorization for the proper amount, sometimes you forget to even send the bill.
Outpatient infusion therapy involves providing specialized medical treatments to patients who do not require an overnight stay in the hospital or ER visit. These treatments are typically administered intravenously or by specialty injection and can include a range of medications, fluids, and therapies tailored to the individual patient's needs. By offering these services on an outpatient basis, a rural hospital can tap into an underserved area of healthcare demand within their community.
Imagine a system that could deliver the right dosage at the right time, every single time while supporting the program’s financial integrity. Rural hospitals often provide this service but struggle with the complex administrative hurdles that exist because you do not have the bandwidth or specialization to maximize its potential.
How Do Infusion Services Work?
If you are picturing a set of complex gadgets and devices, you are halfway there. Infusion systems consist of infusion pumps, intravenous sets, and a range of software solutions that work together like a finely tuned machine. Each component plays a critical role, from the infusion pumps that control the rate and volume of the infusion to the software that monitors and manages the entire system. The seamless integration ensures that each component contributes to a safer and more effective treatment environment. What you may be missing in your system is dedicated staffing, utilizing overworked nursing staff is not providing better care, and missing billing and authorization opportunities that can make this treatment profitable as the stakes are high. CIS’s turnkey model provides a scalable solution that fits rural hospital’s needs.
Enhanced Patient Care
Facing facts, we are all in the healthcare industry to make a difference, and patient outcomes are the scoreboard by which we measure success. In a rural setting, where resources are often stretched thin, an infusion service partner can serve as a force multiplier. By outsourcing this service, the standard of care rises because dedicated staff don’t have to do administrative tasks that slow them down. This is not just good for the patient; it's good for the entire community, as more personalized healthcare can often be a catalyst for a healthier population in general. Do you realize that having a more robust infusion service will allow patients to seek treatment near their homes, within minutes of your hospital?
Streamlining Workflow
If you have ever felt like you are a juggler at a circus, trying to keep too many balls in the air, you are not alone. Hospital staff in rural settings often wear many hats, from administrative tasks to patient care. Infusion outsourcing can take some of these burdens off your shoulders. They provide dedicated staff for manual tasks like obtaining authorizations, tracking down orders, coordinating medication availability, monitoring fluid levels, and even flagging inconsistencies. This added resource enables various staff members to channel their skills where they are most needed, i.e., in personalized patient care. It is a win-win for both staff morale and operational efficiency.
Reducing Human Error
Nobody is perfect. We are all susceptible to human error, more so when the stakes are high, and pressures are constant. We are experienced and require checks and balances within infusion services to significantly minimize the risk of errors. From expired orders to patient authorization and patient follow-up, our dedicated team supports the process. These features contribute to better treatment protocols and trust between the hospital and the community it serves. Where Community Infusion Solutions really earns, it is keep is by reducing errors in billing and administrative functions like pre-authorizations and those alone can make or break a successful infusion program.
Key Benefits of Infusion Technology
Cost-Efficiency
Many rural hospitals operate on tight budgets, and you might think that an upgrade like Community Infusion Solutions would be a financial strain. However, the long-term cost-benefit analysis tells a different story. First, if you’re losing money with infusions now, you have nothing to lose. The efficiency gains in labor, coupled with market growth combatting outmigration, result in significant improvements clinically and financially for your organization. Furthermore, our model of expanded infusion services means they can scale up as your hospital grows this service, making them a smart, sustainable investment.
Safety Measures
At Community Infusion Solutions, we believe patient safety is paramount. The experience of our team has multiple layers of safety checks, balances, and notifications for any operational anomalies. Our system provides a backstop for procedural inconsistency, eliminating errors currently being replicated. This contributes to a safer and more secure hospital environment, which is essential in gaining community trust. As an executive you may be experiencing some anxiety over when your next big error will happen, not if it will happen. Our integrated operational flow supports the quality and clinical efficacy of the infusion service your community deserves.
Case Studies
We are putting together a case study that will share an example of a rural healthcare system that has turned its IV medication delivery around completely. Hillsdale Hospital located in Hillsdale; Michigan is a current infusion service partner utilizing our model. Their organization made a concerted effort to develop and manage their own infusion service line twice. Ultimately the difficult decision was made to shutter their programs, having lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in the process. After partnering with CIS and treating their first patient on 9/1/2022, their program has grown to a multi-million-dollar profitable service line treating hundreds of patients from their community. Their patients are now able to receive the local care they deserve and no longer out-migrating 45 minutes away to the nearest facility providing infusion services. Visit the website for more information and to receive the case study once it’s complete.
Overcoming Implementation Challenges
Funding and Budgeting
Finances should never be a barrier to better healthcare. Many grants and funding options are specifically designed to assist rural healthcare providers in service line upgrades. Although, if you are too busy to bill for infusions, this can be challenging as well. Organizations like the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) and HRSA provide resources to make these crucial investments more accessible. CIS maintains a low cost of entry for our partners and implements our turnkey model in as few as 8 weeks following an on-site kickoff meeting in your facility. Our model is the single largest revenue driver in our partner bases service offering, often eclipsing revenue figures generated from all other outpatient service departments.
The Road Ahead
Future Trends in Infusion Technology
As we look to the future, infusion technology is set to become even more intuitive, more efficient, and more integrated. Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are just a few of the trends that will further refine these systems. For rural hospitals, this could mean even more customization, better analytics, and further leaps in both patient care and operational efficiency. We are glad to share all our expertise and experience with your team to provide profitable care that serves the needs of your community. Register below to receive the latest case study, you'll get great data on how Hillsdale Hospital in rural Michigan is crushing infusion care with our assistance.