O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center Magazine Spring 2020 | Page 22

TREATMENT MEETS TECH
New UAB Infusion Therapy clinic provides state-of-the-art care
By Savannah Koplon
UAB Medicine Infusion Therapy has a new home
in The Kirklin Clinic of UAB Hospital, bringing
personalized, team-based, efficient and state-ofthe-art
care to patients and their families.
UAB’s Infusion Therapy is the largest and only magnetdesignated
infusion therapy center in the state of
Alabama, expanding access to expert care with modern
and patient- and family-centered amenities.
Patients with diseases and conditions such as
cancer, sickle cell disease, immune deficiencies and
autoimmune diseases are commonly treated through
infusion therapy, in which medication is inserted directly
into a vein.
UAB’s Infusion Therapy offers chemotherapy, blood
products, antibiotics, immunotherapies, injections and
central line care.
With infusion therapy often taking several hours to
complete, the new clinic space has been designed
with family, privacy and comfort in mind. The 84-chair
clinic offers a tremendous amount of natural light
and openness, while also providing individual and
private space for patients. This enables families and
other support systems to be present during infusion
appointments.
“We are proud that we are able to offer the highest
standards of comfort for our patients, specifically
those who are coming to us regularly for continued
outpatient treatment,” said Jordan DeMoss, MSHA, vice
president of Clinical Operations at UAB Hospital and
the UAB Cancer Service Line. “As part of the O’Neal
Comprehensive Cancer Center, the new clinic supports
our mission at UAB Medicine to expand access and
unmatched cancer care to all patients who seek our
services.”
In addition to enhanced privacy, patient chairs provide
new features including outlets for chargers, heating and
reclining capabilities, and access to personal televisions
and complementary Wi-Fi. Amenities such as additional
Cold Cap machines for hair retention are also available
for those who may be interested in using them during
their cancer treatments.
“The goal was to have our physicians and teams partner
with the architects to design the optimal treating
and healing environment for our patients and their
companions,” said Patricia J. Pritchett, J.D., BSN, senior
vice president of Ambulatory Services at the UAB
Health System.
In the new space, the merging of pharmacy services,
laboratories and treatment will improve the efficiency of
visits and bring UAB’s many experts together into one
location alongside patients and their families.
Another benefit specifically for oncology patients
includes care from oncology care-certified nursing
staff and oncology-specialized pharmacists that will
support the highest level of cancer care and specialized
education in the state.
“With our new Infusion Therapy space, we are looking
forward to blending expertise and personalized
care that will further enhance the understanding
and experience of patients receiving chemotherapy
or other infusions,” explained Lisle Nabell, M.D., a
professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology &
Oncology, as well as the medical director of Infusion
Therapy at UAB.
“We believe that – by consolidating our personnel and
resources, in combination with new and open patient
rooms and spaces – we will help to make infusion
therapy time-efficient for patients and provide the
highest level of patient guidance possible. This unit was
designed with keeping the patient experience at the
center of all aspects of development,” Nabell said.
BY THE NUMBERS
UAB INFUSION THERAPY:
patient chairs are included in
the new UAB Infusion Therapy
facility at The Kirklin Clinic.
oncology-designated infusion
chairs are now available at
UAB in total.
cancer patients had infusion
therapy visits facilitated by the
Cancer Service Line in 2019.
20 O’NEAL COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER AT UAB