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免疫球蛋白

将IG治疗转移到医疗保健提供者办公室的真正成本

Man receiving IG therapy at home

Do you have an immunodeficiency disease or an autoimmune condition? If so, immunoglobulin (IG) therapy could be a life-saving treatment for you. This therapy can be administered either at home or in a healthcare provider’s office, depending on the specific brand and how it’s given. 

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If you currently receive IG therapy at home, you might consider switching where you receive your therapy to a healthcare provider’s office for many reasons. While this is possible, it is important to understand the potential challenges involved with switching. In this article, we will explore the true costs and challenges of moving your IG therapy to a healthcare provider’s office.

What Is IG Therapy?

Immunoglobulin (IG) therapy or IG replacement therapy is a treatment used to provide patients with antibodies that they need to fight infections. 免疫球蛋白 (antibodies) are collected from the blood of healthy donors. These immunoglobulins help prevent infections by fighting foreign pathogens like viruses and bacteria.

You might receive IG therapy if you have primary immunodeficiency disorders or other conditions that affect your immune system’s ability to produce antibodies. Immunoglobulin therapy is typically infused into the body, either by intravenous (IV) infusion or by subcutaneous (SC) injection. Immunoglobulin therapy given via an IV infusion is called 免疫球蛋白, and when given via a SC injection, it is called 四川国际集团. In both IVIG and SCIG, you receive the same immunoglobulin product. You can typically receive IVIG and SCIG at home or in a healthcare provider’s office. 

IG therapy only provides temporary protection from infections. A single dose of IVIG or SCIG will protect you for 1 to 4 weeks, depending on the specific product. Because of this, you have to receive IG therapy on a regular basis. If you have a primary immunodeficiency disorder, you have to take IG therapy for a lifetime [1][2].

Reasons for Moving Your IG Therapy From Home to a Healthcare Provider’s Office

There may be several reasons why you would want to move your IG therapy from home to a healthcare provider’s office. Some examples may include: 

Supervision and Support: You might feel more comfortable receiving treatment under the supervision of a medical professional. Also, some people may have specific conditions that need close monitoring.

Convenience: For some people, it is more convenient to receive IG therapy in a healthcare provider’s office. This is especially true if you have difficulty with self-infusion or you do not have a suitable home environment for infusion.

Access to Resources: Generally, a healthcare provider’s office has more resources than you have in your home. There are emergency equipment and professional staff who can handle any complications that you might have.

Ensuring Proper Administration: In a healthcare provider’s office, medical staff will ensure that the IG is administered at the correct dose and rate. Also, if any complications occur during the infusion, there will be trained staff who can manage these issues effectively.

The True Price of Moving Your IG Therapy to a Healthcare Provider’s Office

Man sitting on sofa in living room while receiving IVIG therapy

Before moving your IG therapy to a healthcare provider’s office, you must first consider the drawbacks, such as:

Higher Costs

Several studies have shown that both healthcare and pharmaceutical costs are significantly higher for healthcare provider’s office infusion than home infusion [4][5][6]. Another study showed that in 2010, taking IV therapy in a healthcare provider’s office was 31% more expensive than receiving the infusion at home [3]. Back then, patients had to spend an additional $18,876 to $26,136 per year if they received 13 to 18 infusions in a healthcare provider’s office.

Besides medical bills, there are other costs associated with receiving IG therapy in a healthcare provider’s office, such as:

  • Transportation costs. These costs can add up if you visit a doctor’s office frequently and live in a rural or remote area.
  • Lost wages if you take time off work for frequent healthcare provider’s office visits. 
  • Childcare arrangements during your appointment.
  • Overnight accommodations if you have to travel long distances to reach your healthcare provider’s office. This can increase your overall treatment cost significantly.

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Logistical Challenges

If you want to move your IG therapy to a healthcare provider’s office, you may also face some logistical challenges, such as:

Time and Convenience: Coordinating visits to your healthcare provider’s office can be difficult, especially if you have a busy schedule or family responsibilities. Unlike home therapy, receiving IG therapy in a healthcare provider’s office is less flexible. You may face situations where you must miss an appointment or rearrange personal commitments. This can cause additional stress and inconvenience. Additionally, if you live in a rural area or get stuck in heavy traffic, traveling to and from your healthcare provider’s office can take a lot of time. 

Comfort and Safety: Receiving IG therapy at a healthcare provider’s office can be less comfortable and safe compared to home therapy. At home, you have the comfort of familiar surroundings. But in a healthcare provider’s office, you may feel anxious and uncomfortable due to the intimidating environment. Several studies have shown that receiving IG therapy at a healthcare provider’s office can reduce your quality of life because of such reasons [3]. Additionally, a healthcare provider’s office can expose you to other sick people. This can increase your risk of getting infections [7].

底线

You might think that moving your IG therapy to a healthcare provider’s office is a minor change. But the reality is different. This transition comes with a lot of hidden costs and logistical challenges. The treatment cost in a healthcare provider’s office is significantly higher, and there are other significant indirect costs like lost wages, childcare, and transportation costs. In addition, there are inconveniences related to time, travel, and treatment experience that must be considered when making the decision to switch where you receive your infusion.

If you are still considering this transition, you should conduct a cost-benefit analysis first. After that, consult your healthcare professional for further advice about the transition.

参考:

  1. Immunoglobulin replacement therapy | Immune Deficiency Foundation. (n.d.). https://primaryimmune.org/understanding-primary-immunodeficiency/treatment/immunoglobulin-replacement-therapy
  2. Ameripharma Specialty Care. (2024, December 6). IVIG Therapy | Home Infusions | AmeriPharma Specialty Care. AmeriPharma® Specialty Care. https://ameripharmaspecialty.com/conditions-treatments/immune-globulin-ig/
  3. Benefits of home IVIG therapy. (n.d.). https://www.igliving.com/magazine/articles/IGL_2016-04_AR_Benefits-of-Home-IVIG-Therapy.pdf
  4. Rastegar, J., Brown, V. T., John, I., Dixon, S. W., Rodman, E., Ellis, J. J., & Poonawalla, I. B. (2023). Home versus outpatient hospital intravenous immunoglobulin infusion and health care resource utilization. Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, 63(5), 1566-1573.e1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japh.2023.06.021
  5. Fu, L. W., Song, C., Isaranuwatchai, W., & Betschel, S. (2018). Home-based subcutaneous immunoglobulin therapy vs hospital-based intravenous immunoglobulin therapy: A prospective economic analysis. Annals of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, 120(2), 195–199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anai.2017.11.002
  6. Ye, X., Ito, D., Xiong, Y., & Li-McLeod, J. (2014). A comparison of costs between outpatient hospital, clinic and home settings for intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusions. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 133(2), AB43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2013.12.181
  7. Zuizewind, C. A., Van Kessel, P., Kramer, C. M., Muijs, M. M., Zwiers, J. C., & Triemstra, M. (2018). Home-Based Treatment with Immunoglobulins: an Evaluation from the Perspective of Patients and Healthcare Professionals. Journal of Clinical Immunology, 38(8), 876–885. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10875-018-0566-z
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Portrait of Robert H., a pharmacist sharing his expertise.
医学审核人 Robert Hakim博士,药学博士

Robert Chad Hakim 博士,药学博士,在加州北岭出生长大。他毕业于威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校药学院,获得药学学位。工作中最让他感到自豪的是积极推进临床项目,从而最大限度地提升患者护理的效果。他拥有重症监护委员会认证 (BCCCP),专业领域包括重症监护、药物信息、全科医学和心脏病学。闲暇时,他喜欢旅行。 

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