Home for the holidays: Home Infusions cut a patient’s commute and add a personalized bond

Stay safe, warm and at-home with those who matter most this holiday season while IU Health Home Infusion brings your care to you. We provide expert infusion services when it’s convenient for you right to your home – so you can spend time on what matters most to you during the holidays.

Tammi Imel’s infusion therapy, which she relies on to manage Common Variable Immune Deficiency and several other autoimmune conditions, used to be a seven-hour event. She’d travel three hours roundtrip twice a month to an IU Health Infusion Center, where her infusions took four hours to administer. Now, Imel spends that four-hour infusion window streaming her favorite shows, working from home, bonding with her nurse or even napping, all from the comfort of her home – she’s a patient of IU Health Home Infusion.

“Getting out to the center twice a month, including specialist visits, meant long drives and added stress,” says Imel. “[I’m thankful] to have a consistent caregiver I’ve formed a relationship with and who knows my health information well.”

IU Health Home Infusion delivers personalized infusion therapy directly to patients in their own homes. Patients can experience a more comfortable, convenient and cost-effective infusion option at home.

“I was apprehensive before the first visit, immediately transitioning to hostess mode. I learned very quickly that my home care nurse was truly there to take care of me, not to have a pleasant afternoon,” says Imel. “I am in my comfortable space, and my nurse adjusts easily to my space and home.”

Imel describes her nurse Rachel Preusz, clinical nurse, as “always willing to go the extra mile.” Preusz offers Imel knowledgeable guidance and consistent, well-rounded care, placing prompt lab orders and answering all Imel’s questions. They’ve developed a strong bond working one-on-one.

“Rachel is relaxed and fun, but very professional and attentive to safety and excellent caregiving with port access, de-access and medication delivery,” says Imel. “She is professional, kind and competent. We always find things to talk about and share laughs. I would not trade working with Rachel for anything!”

Home infusions have reduced the duration of Imel’s infusion process and overall stress. She highly recommends the program to patients like her.

“[If you] have multiple chronic conditions, must take time off work for specialist visits or drive long distances for care, you’ll benefit. Home care takes a considerable amount of stress away from managing chronic conditions.”

Learn more about IU Health’s Home Infusion program.