Infusion Therapy

Medical care doesn't have to bring life to a halt. Patients at the Outpatient Infusion Services Department at Powell Cancer Center at Morton Plant Hospital receive treatment and still take part in most of their daily activities. We are committed to offering the best care experience for our patients by helping them take charge of their treatment and simultaneously maintaining their quality of life.

What is Infusion Therapy?
Intravenous medication administration or intravenous fluid therapy may be required following a patient hospital stay or as a prolonged treatment of a chronic condition such as cancer, hemophilia, heart disease, nutritional defects and neuropathies. That's when a specialty infusion therapy provider, such as the Powell Cancer Center Infusion Department, steps in to continue care. The Morton Plant Mease Pharmacy mixes the compound requested by the physician. A registered nurse specializing in vascular access and intravenous therapy then administers the IV to the patient.

Benefits of Outpatient Infusion Services:

• Cost Effectiveness - Most outpatient services are covered by Medicare and other insurance providers.
• Professionalism - Registered nurses whose specialty is vascular access and infusion therapy administer and supervise treatment at all times. Our pharmacy is staffed with infusion-experienced pharmacists.
• Comfort - Patients receive treatment in comfortable surroundings while sitting in reclining chairs and watching cable television.

Outpatient Infusion Services Include:

• Catheter management: Services include declotting all devices and insertion of peripheral central catheters, peripheral access catheters and midline catheters, including line flushes, as well as labs, dressing changes and port maintenance.
• Chemotherapy/Biotherapy: Cancer patients may receive chemotherapeutic medications and biological support agents such as Procrit, Neupogen, Neulasta and Leukine at frequent intervals in our clinical setting. A registered nurse certified in Oncology Nursing oversees care.
• Hydration: Parenteral fluid and electrolyte therapy is provided to patients at risk for dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.
• Infectious disease treatment: Antibiotic, antifungal and antiviral therapies are used to treat individuals with diseases such as, but not limited to, osteomyelitis, endocarditis, lyme disease, cellulitis, pneumonia and urinary tract infections.
• Procedures: Administration of blood and blood products, anticoagulation (Lovenox), therapeutic phlebotomy, and migraine therapies.
• Specialized infusions: Special therapies include intravenous gamma globulin (IVIG) for established patients, Remicade, Deferoxamine, Pamidronate (for metastatic disease), Zometa, Prolastin, iron preparations, and other monoclonal antibody therapies.
• Limited Lab Services: These services include pre-chemotherapy lab draws, monitoring of antibiotic therapy patients' labs, blood cultures and catheter tip cultures.

Hours:
Monday - Friday 8 am - 4:30pm
(Wednesday open until 12:30pm during summer months)
Weekend services are limited (services offered in the hospital by outpatient nurses)

Location:
Outpatient Infusion Services Department
Powell Cancer Center
Morton Plant Hospital
303 Pinellas Street, Suite 250
Clearwater, FL  33756
Maps & Directions
(727) 462-2128