Caring, compassionate staff and a calming environment help make procedures as pleasant as possible.

The Procedures Clinic at Hurley Medical Center performs infusions and minor procedures on an outpatient basis, including procedures that require anesthesia. It is conveniently located within the hospital so that patients can receive infusions close to where they live, rather than driving long distances. An infusion is the introduction of a fluid, electrolyte, antibiotic, nutrient, or drug directly into a vein (examples: blood transfusion, chemotherapy, glucose).

Patient- and Family-Centered Care

Patient- and Family-Centered Care is a very important part of the Procedures Clinic. Family members can sit with the patient while he or she is getting an infusion. There are snacks, a TV, and computers to keep the patient and family occupied, as some infusions can take up to 6 hours.

Procedures and infusions include:

• ACTH stimulation testing: measures the adrenal glands’ response to the adrenocorticotropic (ACTH) hormone
• Antibiotic infusions: puts antibiotics directly into the bloodstream to fight infection
• Blood, platelet and blood product transfusions: used to replace important elements of the blood, missing due to bleeding or the body’s inability to produce them
• Bone marrow biopsies: used to study bone marrow (the source of blood cells) in the diagnosis of many blood diseases
• Chemotherapy: powerful chemicals used to treat cancer
• Conscious sedation for minor procedures: light sedation using pain relievers and sedatives. A patient is awake but feels minimal pain and discomfort.
• Cytoxan infusions for lupus: a sterile white powder used to treat lupus, an autoimmune disease
• Electrolyte replacement infusions: replenishing the body with salt and minerals lost due to dehydration
• Red cell exchange transfusions for sickle cell disease: a patient’s abnormal red cellsare removed and replaced by normal red cells
• Glucose tolerance tests during pregnancy and other lab work: a patient drinks a glucose solution, then blood samples are taken afterwards to determine how quickly the glucose leaves the blood
• Hydration: restoring or maintaining fluid in the blood
• Immune serum globulin (IVIG) infusions: a blood product administered through the vein to treat autoimmune diseases and acute infections
• Iron infusions (Venofer, Ferrlecit): replenish the body’s supply of iron to treat iron deficiency anemia
• Lumbar punctures: the insertion of a hollow needle beneath the arachnoid membrane of the spinal cord in the lumbar region of the back to withdraw spinal fluid for diagnostic purposes or to administer medication
• Mediport flushes: using a liquid solution to clear the catheter that connects a port to a vein
• Minor procedures (cyst removal, suturing, etc.): non-serious procedures that do not require anesthesia
• Reclast/Boniva infusions: drugs used to reduce the risk of bone fracture and to increase bone mass for conditions including osteoporosis and cancer
• Remicade/Orencia infusions: drugs used to treat regional enteritis (inflammation of the intestinal tract) and rheumatoid arthritis
• RhoGAM injections: an Rh-immune globulin given to prevent a woman's body from forming antibodies to an Rh factor in the event that her baby's blood type is Rh positive
• Rituxan infusions for autoimmune disorders: drug used to treat autoimmune disorders
• Solu-Medrol infusions: drug used to treat multiple sclerosis
• Therapeutic phlebotomies: removing blood from the circulatory system in order to obtain a sample for analysis and diagnosis; also used to treat blood disorders
• Water deprivation study: used to determine whether a patient has diabetes insipidus or other causes of excessive thirst; the patient must not drink water for a prolonged period of time to determine the cause of thirst