St. Clair Hospital’s Sipe Infusion Center, which is open every day, including weekends and holidays, offers a plenitude of infusion services: chemotherapy, IV antibiotics, transfusions of blood and blood products, bone marrow biopsies, administration of IV solutions for hydration, various kinds of injections, phlebotomy and the insertion and maintenance of access lines, including peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC lines) and midlines, a shorter form of IV catheter.
Unit Coordinator Amy Mosher, CMSRN, oversees daily operations at Sipe Infusion Center and says that the center makes the experience of serious illness considerably easier for patients. “Patients who need our services are ill; travel is hard on them. They may need to spend six to eight hours getting blood transfusions, but we can type and cross their blood the day before, so that when they come, the blood is here and ready to infuse. It saves them hours of time.
“We also offer a special service to our chemo patients. Often, after they receive treatment, their appetite is decreased and they become dehydrated. We give them the opportunity to return here two days after chemo for rehydration with IV fluids and anti-nausea medication, with a physician’s order. It helps them to feel much better, faster.”
The Sipe Infusion Center is a 4,900-square-foot space located on the hospital’s Third Floor. It features a serene and comfortable environment where patients can relax in the privacy of one of 11 treatment cubicles or in a small private room. Each cubicle offers a recliner that provides heat and massage and is adjustable for the most supportive position. Breakfast and lunch are served, and every patient has a flat screen television, access to Wi-Fi and other amenities. The color scheme is soft and restful, and there are large photos of nature scenes to create the impression of looking out a window. Some of the rooms feature paintings on the ceilings.
Funding for the Sipe Infusion Center was provided by a former patient, the late Dennis Sipe, and his wife, Carol, through a generous donation to the St. Clair Hospital Foundation. With 11 registered nurses, one nursing assistant and a unit secretary, plus Mosher and manager Laura Pollice, R.N., the staff is a cohesive group with strong teamwork. The nurses are experienced in oncology, critical care and medical surgical nursing, and some have additional professional credentials and certifications. All have advanced training in infusion therapies.
To learn more about Sipe Infusion Center at St. Clair Hospital, please visit www.stclair.org [1].