WARREN, Ohio - Teresa Stavelis has been battling osteoporosis for five years. On Wednesday, she underwent an IV infusion to improve her bone density.
"Instead of taking pills every week, it's a once a year infusion," said Stavelis.
Infusion is a treatment she can get in the comfort of St. Joseph Health Center's new infusion center.
"This is the first dedicated medication infusion center in the Mahoning Valley," said Matt Gardner, RN, the coordinator of the infusion center. "Other places do infusions on the side with other services, but we are solely dedicated for infusions of a variety of medications."
Infusions can take anywhere from an hour to four or five hours, depending on the medication, and some patients have to get infusions every day.
"We're here for the outpatient who would otherwise either be in the hospital, in a nursing home, or receiving more expensive home infusion therapy, so this is a great alternative," said Gardner.
In less than a month, the infusion center, which features eight treatment bays, has already provided care for more than 100 patients.
"It's very nice and the nurses are excellent," said Stavelis. "I've really enjoyed being here."
The infusion center is open seven days a week, 365 days a year.