Infusion at Riverside: Comfort, Care, and Convenience Close to Home

Infusion services play an important role in helping people manage many health conditions. At Riverside Healthcare, these services are safe, comfortable, and easy to access. Lindsay Hoekstra, Director of Infusion Services, helps oversee this care. Her goal is to ensure patients feel supported every step of the way.

Hoekstra has worked at Riverside for almost 18 years. She began her career as a nurse in the emergency room (ER) and now leads outpatient infusion, home infusion, and rheumatology specialty services. “I oversee outpatient infusion, home infusion, and the rheumatology specialist,” she explains. Her long history with Riverside has shaped her leadership in many ways.

What Is Infusion Therapy?

Infusion therapy, sometimes called IV therapy, delivers medicine directly into the body through an injection or IV. According to Hoekstra, this type of treatment helps patients with a wide range of conditions. 

For example, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis (UC), rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis (MS), asthma, osteoporosis, chronic kidney disease, migraines, anemia, heart conditions, and some eye disorders. “We definitely offer a wide variety of treatments,” she offers.

Comfort and Convenience: A Top Priority for Riverside Healthcare

Riverside’s Ambulatory Infusion Center keeps patient comfort and convenience top of mind. The main location is in Kankakee, in a pavilion across the street from the hospital. More centers exist in Frankfort, Watseka, and Coal City. The Kankakee center treats patients as young as six months old, while the other locations serve adults. 

A strong team supports each visit. Patients first meet with front desk staff who handle insurance benefits and authorizations. This ensures patients do not have to worry about the paperwork. “Our team takes care of all that,” Hoekstra assures. After scheduling, highly-trained infusion nurses provide the treatments and closely monitor patients.

What Types of Infusion Services Does Riverside Offer?

Riverside offers both home infusion and outpatient infusion. Home infusion allows patients to receive therapy in their own homes, with help from home healthcare and pharmacy partners. Outpatient infusion takes place in a more controlled setting. It is often used for complex medications or patients who need closer supervision. Sometimes, insurance coverage helps determine which option is best.

The infusion center also works with many other Riverside departments. Hoekstra shares that they partner with cardiology to help heart failure patients avoid hospital stays. They also work with OB teams to support pregnant patients needing hydration, and with neurology, pediatrics, orthopedics, primary care, and senior life communities. 

In cancer care, infusion services provide supportive treatments like blood transfusions and hydration. “The benefit of us is that we’re connected to the hospital,” Hoekstra emphasizes, which allows patients to receive timely care close to home.

What Can Patients Expect?

For first-time patients, the experience is calm and reassuring. Patients relax in comfortable recliners with heat and massage while watching TV, listening to music, or reading. Nurses watch for any reactions and provide education during the visit. “Our nurses also provide education during treatments about the medication they’re receiving,” Hoekstra shares.

To get started with infusion services, patients only need an order from their provider. From there, the Riverside team handles the rest. As Hoekstra put it, “What sets us apart from other places is our phenomenal team that we have at the infusion center.”

Click here for more information on Infusion Services at Riverside Healthcare.