Telephone: (850) 476-3131
Infectious Diseases Consultation Services
Detail
Most common and minor infections are easily dealt with by a patient's primary care physician. However, patients with complex and unusual infections, as well as patients whose cause of illness is unknown, may be asked to see an Infectious Diseases Specialist in consultation to assist the primary doctor with diagnosis, treatment recommendations and follow-up. Patients are seen in the hospital if they are inpatients or in the office if they are outpatients.
Typically a consultation is requested by the physician or surgeon taking care of the patient. A patient can also request that their doctor consult with an infectious diseases specialist. All consultations can be scheduled through our office.
Outpatient Antibiotic Infusion
Intravenous therapy outside the hospital setting indicates the growth of progress in the delivery of outpatient care. Whether in the home or another outpatient setting, treatment outside the hospital increases the patient's well-being, both mental and physical, and decreases the risk of hospital-acquired illnesses and/or infections.
For any therapy to be successful, the patient must be willing and able to take some responsibility for their treatment program. To be able to do this, the patient must have adequate information about their infection and the proposed treatment.
Our Infusion Center, an outpatient facility located within the offices of the Center for Prevention and Treatment of Infections, is staffed by trained registered nurses under the direction of Dr. Barbara Wade and Dr. Edgardo Li-Espino.
Dr. Wade and Dr. Li-Espino, Infectious Disease Specialists with expertise in the treatment of complicated infections and non-healing wounds, are responsible for the prescription and execution of the outpatient intravenous therapy regimen and wound care. Multiple delivery options are available for the infusion treatments including, but not limited to: portable medication pumps, daily office visits or patients self-infusing at home after being taught by the nursing staff. Patients needing wound care are usually treated in conjunction with antibiotic infusion therapy and are seen daily in the office.
Insurance coverage varies with each provider. While some cover costs of in-home therapy, either by a home care company or the patient self-infusing, other insurances, such as Medicare, require the patient to come to the physician's office for their treatment.
Patients requiring these services are usually referred by their primary care physician for consultation with Dr. Wade or Dr. Li-Espino.