IBD Infusion Services

The Infusion Services at the Digestive Health Center opened June 2009, under the medical direction of Dr. Raymond Cross.

We offer several infusion services which include:

• Infusion of biologic therapies (Remicade, Tysabri and other investigational agents)
• Intravenous iron repletion
• Fluid repletion
• ACTH Stimulation Test
• Gastrin Stimulation Test
• In addition to IBD therapy we also provide therapy for Nephrology, Rheumatology, Cardiac, Dermatology, and Pulmonology patients. Infusion therapy includes Orencia, Benlysta, and Belatacept

Infusions are done Monday through Friday. The first session begins at 8 am, and the second at 12 pm. Please arrive on time to minimize your wait and that of the patients scheduled for the afternoon sessions.

The room accommodates three recliner infusion chairs, with curtain partitions for your privacy. Additional amenities include personal flat screen televisions, portable DVD players and phone headsets. Two visitors are allowed per patient. You may bring your own food or beverages.

What to Expect

Upon arrival the nurse or medical assistant will check your vital signs (for example, temperature, blood pressure and weight). If you have a scheduled appointment, you will meet with the nurse practitioner and/or physician for a physical examination and discussion of your condition.

Your medication will be ordered from the pharmacy. Medication preparation and delivery takes approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour. While waiting for the medicine to arrive, you will be escorted to the infusion room, where you will receive pre-medications, if needed. An IV will be inserted and blood specimens will be obtained, as needed.

Most infusions take approximately 15 minutes to two hours to complete depending on the medication. Your vital signs will be monitored during the infusion. After the infusion is completed, your IV will be removed. Discharge instructions are provided and reviewed with each patient. (See Remicade Discharge Instructions).

Future infusion appointments are scheduled by the nursing staff, or you may call the Digestive Health Infusion Center at 410-328-4389 to schedule an infusion appointment. Please ask to speak with an Infusion Nurse. You will have an opportunity to schedule physician follow-up visits on the same day of your infusion pending schedule availability. Please note that Dr. Cross sees patients on Wednesday and Friday, Dr. Seema Patil on Tuesdays, Dr. Uni Wong on Wednesday and Thursday, Dr. Lauren George on Wednesday and Friday, and Linda Ryan on Tuesday, Wednesdays, Thursday and Friday.

Insurance Verification

While the staff makes every effort to assist patients with securing prior authorization(s), it is ultimately the patient's responsibility to provide our office with a copy of current insurance information, referrals, and authorizations. The Infusion Staff reserves the right to cancel your infusion appointment without this information and reschedule for a later date.

We look forward to making your infusion visit a pleasant one. We ask for any feedback you might have to help us improve our services.

For more information, please call the IBD office at 410-706-3387.