SPECIALIZING IN IVIG
Crescent Healthcare has been providing intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) therapy to patients with chronic disorders for over a decade and has grown to be one of the country’s leading IVIG providers, supporting physicians’ goals of quality clinical outcomes for their patients. Crescent also offers a wide range of support services to both patients and physicians to further ensure that patients receive quality, comprehensive care.

FOCUSED ON THE INDIVIDUAL
Crescent’s goal is to provide safe, appropriate and high-quality services to each IVIG patient. Intake specialists and a clinical team of nurses and pharmacists are dedicated to the referral process. Crescent’s team will work with the physician, patient and payer to select the most appropriate treatment setting, be it home, physician clinic or hospital outpatient clinic.

EXPERIENCED PHARMACISTS
Because Crescent has access to all IVIG products, our pharmacists are able to select the product that is best for each patient’s disease and co-morbidities. Our pharmacists consider a patient’s renal, cardiac and pharmacokinetic parameters when selecting a product to help minimize the chances of an adverse reaction.

HIGH-TECH NURSES
Crescent’s skilled infusion nurses stay with a patient for the entire IVIG infusion, monitoring the infusion rate and checking vital signs. Our unique protocols, combining hydration, pre-medication and a carefully controlled rate of infusion help reduce side effects and encourage patient compliance.

PRESCRIBING IVIG
There are many dosing regimens for IVIG, but much of the literature recommends a higher loading dose, followed by periodic maintenance doses.

It is important to remember that most IVIG products, once infused, have a half-life ranging from 21 – 35 days. The time between doses should be adjusted according to each patient’s response. Some patients may require infusions every 2 or 3 weeks, while other patients might be able to go 6 or 7 weeks without IVIG before symptoms begin to return due to continuing autoantibody production.

Aspirin and diphenhydramine are sometimes prescribed as premedications to help alleviate side effects.

QUALITY CLINICAL OUTCOMES
Because of Crescent’s unique approach to IVIG therapy, our outcomes are favorable. We have treated over 700 patients with IVIG therapy in the last 12 months, and by comparing our results to published standards, you can see that our management of IVIG therapy promotes positive outcomes.