Infusion Services

 
Carroll Arthritis, P.A. is dedicated to state-of-the-art treatment of arthritis. The past decade has seen the advent of the biologics. These drugs are used to treat the auto-immune diseases: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, and Ankylosing Spondylitis. At Carroll Arthritis, P.A., we also serve as an infusion facility for local dermatologists and gastroenterologists who are prescribing the biologic drugs for Psoriasis, Crohn’s disease, and Ulcerative Colitis.

The FDA-approved biologics infused at Carroll Arthritis, P.A. include Remicade (www.remicade.com), Orencia (www.orencia.com), and Rituxan (www.rituxan.com).

The intravenous infusion of the biologics is given in a comfortable and friendly atmosphere. Our infusion nurses are highly skilled in catheter placement and management of the infusion process. Depending upon the biologic prescribed, infusions are given monthly, every 2 months, or every 6 months. The infusion staff will assist with insurance benefit verification and prior authorization for treatment, if required by the insurance company.

The biologic drugs treat the auto-immune diseases listed above. For unclear reasons, in some people, the immune system goes into overdrive and starts “attacking” the body’s own structures, thinking it is attacking a foreign invader like a germ or a cancer cell. For example, in Rheumatoid Arthritis, the person’s immune system is attacking and destroying the joints and connective tissue, thus leading to pain, swelling, and eventual deformity of the joints. The immune system needs to be quieted down and that’s where the biologics enter into the picture. For most patients, these drugs do a great job of stopping the disease in its tracks. As with Rheumatoid Arthritis, joint structure and function is preserved, along with decreases in joint pain and swelling. Ultimately, a patient’s quality of life is preserved too.