Vanderbilt, Walgreens team for home infusion services
Vanderbilt Medical Center has entered into a business with Walgreens to provide home infusion and respiratory services for patients.
The business will operate under the name Vanderbilt Home Care, affiliated with Walgreens Infusion and Respiratory Services, and will be located in Brentwood, Tenn.
This is only the fourth joint venture of this type Walgreens has established. It has similar agreements with organizations in Idaho, Ohio and Oregon. The business will expand Vanderbilt's array of home health services, and in providing access to home infusion and respiratory therapies to greater numbers of patients.
Laura Beth Brown
“The opportunity to join with a leading regional medical center in the provision of home infusion and respiratory services provides us with the opportunity to strengthen the services we offer our patients,” said Paul Mastrapa, president of Walgreens-OptionCare. “Vanderbilt's commitment to clinical excellence and to delivering positive patient experiences mirrors our own. Together we will continue to focus on providing care and service in the best way possible for our patients.”
“For the past 24 years, Vanderbilt has provided home health services to the community, and we are particularly interested in enhancing and improving the services we have to offer,” said Laura Beth Brown, president of Vanderbilt Home Health Care Services.
“A venture with a company like Walgreens allows us to enhance the way we meet our mission by providing home infusion, respiratory services and durable medical equipment for all patients in the community. This partnership allows patients to receive care in their homes and promotes independence and wellness in the community.”
Vanderbilt also operates a traditional home health agency in addition to the Walgreens venture. The agency provides nursing, physical, speech and occupational therapies, social work and private duty services and will support the infusion nursing needs required for home infusion therapies.
Home infusion therapy is a cost-effective alternative to receiving intravenous drug therapy in the hospital. Patients receive treatment in the comfort of their homes, in convenient alternate treatment sites or other non-hospital settings. Home infusion can be used for many therapies including: anti-infectives, inotropics, parenteral nutrition and pain management.
“While the initial service provided by our joint venture is home infusion therapy,” Mastrapa said, “plans call for the addition of home respiratory services later this year.”